Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Approximately 129,000 people are employed by 1,050 companies, half of which are from the United States, so the American dimension is very important. These US companies are responsible for nearly 70% of the value of investments here. US investment is crucial to Ireland's economic success story — it is the largest source of inward investment and accounts for the biggest exporting sector in the country. Nearly one third of all manufacturing inward investment in Ireland comes from the US, as does nearly half of all software investment. Ireland continues to be the leading location in Europe for electronics and is the world's largest exporter of software. As Senators are aware, Ireland is also one of the key locations for pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

I do not accept Senator Ulick Burke's comments on the IDA. It is harsh to say the IDA failed to bring some company to a particular town. The IDA organised the 12 itineraries for Ballinasloe. If the IDA was genuinely not interested it would not have done so.