Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister. When speaking to the group of people involved in this project in Galway, one of the points they made was that there are many institutions in the United States which, in the current climate, are looking for bases in the European Union. Ireland has this opportunity. We talk about the threat of tariffs and the difficulties in getting new industry here. We will hold our existing industry, but the concern is that down the road research and development will move away from us. There is an opportunity to reverse this flow and get this expertise from world-class universities in the United States to base their research hubs in Ireland. They have assured me they can base their hub anywhere. I mentioned Ballinasloe, which is in my constituency, but they would be happy to base anywhere. With technology and the use of high-grade computers, they can carry out their research in collaboration with institutions in Ireland.

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