Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will report on his latest trade mission; if inward investment in employment is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22927/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I visited the Mid West of the United States from 5th to 9th of April 2010, on a marketing programme organised by IDA Ireland.

The programme involved meeting Chairpersons, CEOs and other senior executives of leading companies, across all sectors and in particular in the Life Sciences and Financial Services sectors. It also involved interviews in the US media, promoting Ireland as a location for foreign direct investment.

Some of the companies, which I met have substantial and valuable activities in Ireland and those meetings focused on retaining, expanding and further embedding the employment footprint here. For companies which do not have a presence in Ireland, the focus was to underpin Ireland as the location for their proposed investment activities against intense competition from other locations around the world.

Overall the engagement at the meetings was positive, with many companies upbeat in their discussions on expansion and growth strategies.

While no specific commitments were made in regard to new investment projects during my visit, I am not surprised at this, as most major FDI projects can involve a lengthy evaluation and decision-making process. It is often the case following such visits that a considerable number of meetings and discussions will take place between the company and IDA Ireland before the company makes a final decision on location.

I am optimistic, however, that new investments and jobs will follow in time, particularly given the positive views which were expressed to me during those meetings.