Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's opening statement. I concur with him with regard to the importance of the St. Patrick's Day period and the opportunity to market Ireland abroad.

Does the Department have an input in trade negotiations at EU level? I refer to the proposal that the EU will participate in new trade agreements such as an EU-US agreement and an EU-Colombia-Peru agreement. Such input seems to be entirely within the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I would like an overview of how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works in conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. An agreement between the EU and the US would have great potential but there are issues of concern to us as a country, particularly about the agrifood and beef sectors.

We had a discussion in the Dáil on the proposed agreement with Colombia and Peru and human rights was the major issue of concern to Members. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has unanimously put forward a recommendation that we do not support the trade agreement and that is being voted on in the Dáil. I welcome the Minister's presentation which dealt with those specific issues.

Will the Minister update us on the Atlantic corridor project which has been on the agenda for some time? He might let us know if there have been any tangible results or benefits to date from the project or if it is it still in the early stages of development.