Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have really changed the direction of the Department to focus on small businesses. The Deputy can see that from the SME package I brought in and the SME test now having received Cabinet approval such that every statutory instrument, regulation or primary legislation change must have an SME impact assessment. We have put money behind it, with the enormous amount of grant support that is now available to the sector.

I want to be clear that our value proposition to IDA clients is critical to this country. Of every €7 spent in the context of budget 2025, €1 comes from the FDI sector. They are very high-value jobs. The Deputy will be very much aware how important companies like Abbott are in Athlone, Mullingar and Longford. They are very significant employers, with big companies like Ericsson, as well as other companies in Mullingar. They are working so hard to deliver high-value jobs. We must be very careful that our value proposition is competitive to attract more investment in and that they get down to the regions. For every ten IDA jobs created, eight more are created in the wider economy. I met representatives of a small printing company in Ballinasloe that makes the leaflets that are put into the medication for a life science company. That is its main contract. It shows what I am trying to do in closing the eco-cycle. If there is a big FDI company, smaller companies and small family businesses, such as that printing company in Ballinasloe, also benefit.

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