Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

While IDA Ireland is convinced that it has excellent quality property solutions in the larger towns in the county, it is also cognisant of the slower inward investment climate that has prevailed for the past two years. This has also had an impact on jobs in existing client companies. Much progress has been recorded in recent years in many of the companies attracted here, in the shift up the value chain of many of these and in many aspects of our competitiveness.

Costs are a major issue for all companies. They have moved out of line with our competitors and this impacts heavily on lower technology businesses. Hence, IDA Ireland has a major emphasis on the health care and internationally traded services sectors. There is now a well developed health care cluster in the west region, particularly in Galway, which includes companies such as Transition Optical in Tuam, StarGuide in Oranmore and Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Abbott in Galway City.