Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recent contacts with representatives in the Eastern Bloc to promote Ireland as a suitable destination for investment; the level of interest and potential identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8126/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland is the statutory agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to this country.

Through its range of overseas offices, IDA Ireland continually markets this country to potential foreign investors. In Europe, the main focus of IDA's marketing is in the three largest economies, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.

The majority of countries in Eastern Europe are in the early stages of their economic development and therefore do not represent appropriate targets for foreign direct investment for the Ireland of today. Indeed for certain activities some locations in Eastern Europe are in fact competitor locations for Ireland and the work of the IDA.