Irish exporters find Covid rebound but longer-term challenges loom large

The Killorglin RDI Hub in Co Kerry is one facility supported by Enterprise Ireland which seeks to assist startups and help create jobs

Richard Curran

Back in the mid-1990s the old IDA was split up into three different agencies. IDA Ireland would continue to attract foreign multinationals. Forbairt (later merged with the old Trade Board and re-named Enterprise Ireland) would develop indigenous firms. Forfás would deliver research.

There was a perception that running Forbairt was a much less glamorous job than running IDA Ireland.