Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My Department’s commitment to advancing Ireland’s trade and economic interests in Europe and internationally is set out under programme A. The amount allocated for the programme in 2014 is €48.1 million, a reduction of €6 million or 17% on the 2013 provision. As previously noted, this reduction reflects the discontinuance of additional funds that were allocated in 2013 for Ireland’s EU Presidency. I have addressed already the importance of the State’s diplomatic and consular network in advancing our economic and trade interests. I will now turn briefly to trade promotion which is a central element of this programme. Trade missions are an important element of the national promotional effort and, in 2013, a total of 18 ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland trade missions visited countries which have been identified as priority markets for Irish exporting companies. It is envisaged that this level of activity will be sustained in 2014. These trade missions are supported actively by our trade and promotion division at headquarters and by our diplomatic missions on the ground.

In 2013, ministerial-led trade missions secured more than €200 million in new or additional contracts for Irish business. This included an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Turkey, which I led in April, during which contracts worth more than €30 million were agreed. Similarly, the recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the Middle East, led by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and supported by our embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, saw the announcement of 95 new jobs in Ireland and new contracts and business developments worth €65 million. The St. Patrick’s Day period presents very important opportunities for promotional activity by the embassy network. Over the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day period, the Taoiseach and I, and 18 Ministers, travelled to 21 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia for a series of trade, investment and tourism-focused programmes. It is intended to maintain a similar level of promotional activity during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day period.

The Government’s trade strategy sets out targets in trade, tourism and investment to be met by 2015, as well as a programme of actions conducive to achieving these targets. My Department is leading a short, focused review of the Government trade, tourism and investment strategy in close collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, other relevant Departments and State agencies. The review is now nearing completion and it is envisaged that it will be presented in the coming weeks.