Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

They are in Ballina, Tipperary, Cork, Wexford and Cavan. It is just fantastic. I do not say this to be patronising, but it gives me hope, warms me and motivates me because they are risk-takers outside their comfort zone in many cases, but they are committed, dedicated, passionate and driving each other on and challenging us to continue to do better. I do not come to this job in terms of what I do with a know-all approach; I come to listen and to engage. I was in Bray recently. I am going to Athlone tomorrow for the SICAP conference. It is about recognising the value for our local economy and society.

It is my intention and that of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to deliver on the implementation of the Trading for Impact social enterprise policy. That will not happen by chance; it will happen as a result of dedication and commitment. It reflects what we are all at. We are all ambitious, no matter what part of the jigsaw or circle of the wheel we are in. If you go back to my speech from the first iteration to where we are now, look at the model of IRD Duhallow that Senator Lynch spoke about. Look at what it is doing today in comparison with when it started. I was in Mayfield CDP on north side of Cork city on Friday. Thirty-five years ago, a group of women came together with Canon Donal Lenihan to form a CDP to bring opportunity to change the lives of people. Now, the needs and challenges are still there, but the engagement, inclusivity, drive, initiative and energy by a new group of people is still there.

The stakeholder engagement group piece is important. The group will oversee the delivery of the policy. As I said, it has begun its work. As I visit social enterprises throughout the country, what I see that at first hand. What we have heard today is about thriving sustainable organisations such as those in the circular economy and the green economy. The point we do not raise enough the contribution they make in terms of adding billions to our economy, while at the same time helping people in areas who perhaps you would not necessarily say were going to be here working to do this. We are all working together to make a better world and better Ireland.

What I, as Minister of State, want to do is continue to see investment. I accept the point about multi-annual funding. It is something we may need to do more of. We do it for capital projects. There is huge competition in terms of job retention and creation in certain sectors of our economy. I am a big believer in data collection, not just to show what we are doing right but also in order that we can learn the data as to how we can engage further. I hope the research we will accrue from this debate will lead us to make changes in the future. What we must do is continue to support and work with every sector to ensure that we put in place a strategy, whether it is rural Ireland or urban Ireland, that has a strong root that creates and cultivates enterprises that thrive and allow people to be creative.

I am very much committed to this. We must continue to put support in social enterprise in a targeted way. We will have that debate again in the future. I thank Senators for their contributions. I will come back to Senator Tully about Cavan. If she wants to email me or have another chat, we can do so.