I thank the Deputy for his important question. As somebody from a rural constituency, I am aware of how incredibly important IDA Ireland site visits are. I know the Deputy feels very strongly about those engagements as important opportunities for his county and the midlands. IDA Ireland remains committed to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its strategy for the period 2025 to 2029, Adapt Intelligently. The aim of this ambitious strategy is to secure 550 of the 1,000 investments targeted over the lifetime of the strategy to the regions, including 40 in the midlands. Over half of the 973 investments won under IDA Ireland's strategy for the period 2021 to 2024 went to regional locations. Some 31 of these were in the midlands region, exceeding the strategy target of 25. There are 1,420 people currently employed in Offaly across 11 IDA Ireland-supported companies. Figures show that employment among IDA Ireland clients increased by 26% in the region over the past five years. The midlands has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across life sciences, technology, global business and financial services and engineering and industrial technologies. IDA Ireland will continue to position the midlands as a competitive and attractive destination for global investors. In relation to site visits, I am advised that to the end of quarter 2 of this year, there were two visits to County Offaly, five in 2024 and three in 2023. I should state, however, that these figures represent individual visits and are not necessarily indicative of the number of companies that have visited. In addition, site visits may not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of FDI activity in a region or county. The goal for the coming years is to build on the region's strengths and competencies to win investment, with a particular focus on high-value manufacturing, services and research and innovation opportunities across established clusters.
Sentiment score: 0.34
I understand the passion and frustration of Deputy McCormack. While he gives us the figures regarding what is going to Westmeath and Offaly, there can be many reasons for that, although I am not defending it in any way. If the Deputy would like me to facilitate a meeting between him and IDA Ireland regarding the visits to County Offaly to see if there is more we can do to bolster those visits, I would be more than happy to try to facilitate him. A core objective of IDA Ireland is to enable, influence and deliver a competitive property offering that supports the winning of FDI and the growth and expansion of indigenous clients within Enterprise Ireland's portfolio and promotes national economic investment. The availability of quality business parks and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and winning investments in the regions. It is crucial that the midlands region has a competitive and sustainable offering to enable the attraction and retention of jobs and investment in the area. I have a list with me of the companies that have visited County Offaly. As I said, if the Deputy wants me to facilitate a meeting in the future, I am happy to do so.
Sentiment score: 0.41
The goal in the coming years is to build on the region's strengths and competencies to win that investment. I take the Deputy’s point that you have to have the facilities - sometimes you have to build it and they will come. Very often, the metric that gets people to come is if they see nice facilities and all the wraparound things, such as infrastructure, housing, footfall or whatever. I take the Deputy’s point. As somebody from Cavan-Monaghan, I know that we do not get many visits either, so I feel his pain. From my dealings with IDA Ireland so far, I know that sometimes it cannot dictate where companies go because their representatives come with particular requirements or a vision in their heads as to where they want to go. I take the point that a balance has to be struck if we are to create the proper regional development that we are all concerned about. A part of that is for IDA Ireland to have a greater spread across the regions. I take the Deputy’s points, which are very valid, and I will raise them with IDA Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I thank Deputy Moynihan for his very important question. In June, the Government of China initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imports of pork and beef products from the European Union, and it has now announced provisional duties on imports of pork from the EU. The European Commission is in the process of assessing this announcement and will consider measures to protect EU industry and economic interests ahead of the deadline for the final determination of the Chinese investigation on 16 December. I understand that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is aware of the preliminary findings of China's investigation and that the Department is confident that Ireland's exports of pork and pork by-products to China are fully compliant with World Trade Organization rules. The Department has encouraged the Irish industry to co-operate fully with the Chinese investigations. The Commission will be supported in its efforts to defend EU farmers and exporters on this matter. My Department, through Enterprise Ireland, provides a range of funds and grants to agrifood businesses, including pig processors, to support export growth and capability development in the sector. Supports are available for capital investment, research and development, digitalisation, training, and sustainability initiatives. Bord Bia also runs promotional campaigns which aim to boost domestic and export demand. In addition, my Department, together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, co-fund the capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products, which is implemented by Enterprise Ireland. This scheme is targeted at businesses in the meat and dairy sectors to support them to expand and diversify and to increase sales of higher value-added products in the global marketplace. Thirty-four projects have been supported, with total public and private investment exceeding €420 million. This investment helps future-proof the sector, sustain jobs and enhance export potential.
Sentiment score: 0.41
As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy Burke, launched the Government's Action Plan on Market Diversification recently. It contains important actions aimed at supporting export-orientated sectors, including the agrifood sector. This focus on market diversification for the sector also aligns with the objectives of the Food Vision 2030 strategy, which is led by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The action plan sets out a path to support Ireland's businesses large and small and to adapt to the global trading environment by striking out into new and diverse markets, deepening their engagement in existing markets and expanding where possible and where opportunities exist. As a global and open trading economy deeply connected into international supply chains, the action plan also serves to mitigate the current risks and bolster our economic resilience. Of the grants and schemes that are available, I want to talk about two in particular. The market research grant provides up to €35,000 to help companies assess the impact of tariffs, gain market insights and develop mitigation strategies even in markets where they already operate. The second piece is the new markets validation grant, offering up to €150,000 to support the development of market entry strategies into new markets and new products.
Sentiment score: 0.40
As I said, the Department has encouraged the Irish industry to co-operate fully with the Chinese investigations, and the Commission will support its efforts to defend EU farmers and exporters on the matter. I am cognisant of the fact that the Minister, Deputy Burke, has done a huge amount in terms of particular sectors being able to take shocks like that, having that resilience in place. That is what the action plan on competitiveness and market diversification is all about. As a Government, we are mindful and cognisant of that, looking to other markets and trying to ensure that we future-proof not just our pig sector but all agrifood sectors that face tariffs, potentially. I would like us to await the outcome of that investigation, which is due to be published on 16 December.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I wish Deputy Connolly well in her campaign in the weeks ahead. She is a brave lady. As the national competent authority for export controls, my responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. These controls are administered by the Department in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. These controls are designed to manage risk, uphold international peace and security and ensure Ireland’s compliance with its international obligations. To date in 2025, a total of nine individual dual-use licences have been issued in respect of end users in Israel. Four were issued in quarter 1 with a maximum value of €797,000. In quarter 2, three were issued with a maximum value of €93,000. To date in quarter 3, two licences have been issued with a maximum value of €172,000. There has been one refusal to date in 2025 in respect of an end user in Israel, which was refused in quarter 1. The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software - networking, data storage and cybersecurity. They are categorised as dual-use items because they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.
Sentiment score: 0.43
I do not have exact details on the reasons the application was refused. I will look for clarity on that and furnish the Deputy with the details. There is extensive engagement between my officials and exporters should any questions or concerns arise regarding any application for any destination, including Israel. If, after engagement, there are any outstanding concerns that the goods being exported will not be used for the stated end use or by the specified end user, as detailed in the application, or if the exporter does not provide enough information on the intended end use for my officials to make an informed decision, the application for a licence is denied. In applying export controls in a robust and transparent way, my Department ensures legitimate business transactions by reputable Irish traders are not damaged in any way, while ensuring exports of controlled goods are thoroughly risk assessed in the context of ongoing conflicts, diversion of goods and humanitarian considerations.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I reiterate that I will ask the Department, insofar as it can, to furnish the Deputy with much greater detail on the refusal I indicated and the reasons for it. My officials seek real-time geopolitical observations from the Department of foreign affairs in respect of all applications, and those views inform the final decision to grant or deny a licence. The assessment process is rigorous. The officials carry out a series of checks to ensure, insofar as they can, that the item to be exported will be used by the stated end user for the stated end purpose and will not be used or diverted for any other purpose. Ireland remains firmly committed to supporting open, free and responsible trade within a multilateral rules-based international system while ensuring global security and humanitarian concerns are not compromised. Strong export controls are essential to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, protecting regional security and stability, combating terrorism and protecting human rights.
Sentiment score: 0.19