Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It is unfair to say it is the IDA's failure. The bottom line is that we must win against stiff competition. We then try to regionalise and the IDA has a regional mandate. The IDA is busily developing infrastructure in Ballinasloe with Enterprise Ireland. I had a good meeting with a company that came to Ballinsloe through foreign direct investment. I have also met some indigenous companies there.

I will mention some other points quickly because I am aware of the time constraints. Research and development is a key agenda for my Department. The programme for third-level research and education, which I was glad to initiate as Minister for Education and Science, and Science Foundation Ireland, which the Tánaiste initiated, have resulted in a change in the level, scale and quality of investment in research. From 1995 to 1999, €500 million was spent on research and development by the State, whereas from 2000 to 2006 some €2.5 billion is being spent on research and development. Over the next six years, we want to achieve the Lisbon target of 2.5% of GNP. I am chairing an intergovernmental committee on research and development. We set a task to prepare the road map and blueprint by mid-2005 by which we will achieve that 2.5% of GNP target, which involves both business and State expenditure. I want to know the physical incremental steps we must take to do things such as doubling the number of PhDs by the end of this decade.