Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Senator Browne has raised what is obviously an extremely important issue in his local area. State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the Industrial Development Agency Ireland, which has responsibility for foreign direct investment, and Enterprise Ireland, which concentrates on the development of indigenous industries. Although the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment may give general policy directives to the agencies under the relevant Acts, he is precluded from giving directives on individual undertakings and from giving preference to one area over another.