Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The point I am making is that the tax rate on its own is no longer a unique selling point. It never was, actually.

It was very important, but the other two points I referenced, in terms of investment in education and our joining the European Union, were also key, fundamental pillars of the economic transformation of this country over 50 years, as well as our consistent industrial policy, which has been pro-enterprise. It is important to be pro-enterprise. Not everybody in this House has always been pro-enterprise but it is important, and it also important that people get that sense of the country when they arrive here.

The Deputy correctly referenced Intel, which is a very interesting example. We are now a centre of manufacturing excellence globally because of our experience over 30 or 40 years. We have benefited human capital-wise and in respect of processes in terms of how to manufacture. We are reliable partners in terms of being a country where manufacturing excellence is so evident. I was down at the Intel site recently and it is quite stunning, not least to see all the construction companies there.

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