‘Attracting overseas firms is nearly over’

The days of Ireland attracting foreign direct investment are coming to an end, according to the retired Intel CEO, Craig Barrett, who created 6,000 jobs with the stroke of a pen in 1989.

Mr Barrett, who was in Cork attending the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG), said Ireland now needs to concentrate on fostering its own industries.

“You can’t fault the country for trying to be a good place for FDI, but you can say with some certainty that FDI in the future will be more difficult to obtain, therefore you need to do your own growing.