This is a big category with lots of sub-categories. Ireland has priced itself out of certain types of manufacturing - computer assembly, for instance, which has moved to low cost countries.

Besides increasing cost competitiveness, future prosperity for manufacturing will rely on innovation - putting more investment in research and development, commercialising that research and identifying sub-categories that are not dependent on cost.

It will also hinge on Ireland regaining lost competitiveness, in terms of wage, energy and other costs.