Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, is anxious to speak on the matter of Vote 27. We might like to be brief in order to facilitate that. The Department's work under programme D, which was previously programme C, will focus on leveraging our resources to drive job creation, our exports including cultural exports, inward investment, tourism and education. There will be a particular focus in 2017 on assisting Irish business in the context of Brexit.

My Department’s commitment to advancing Ireland’s trade and economic interests in Europe and internationally is set out. The current amount allocated is €31.2 million, representing an increase of €3 million on 2016, mainly due to the consolidation of existing promotion and outreach funding from a range of programmes.

We play a crucial role in efforts to restore our international reputation and to promote Ireland’s economic interests overseas. Our economy is in good shape and continuing to grow strongly. Key indicators on employment, GDP and debt levels continue to move steadily in a positive direction.

Members will be familiar with the work of our embassies abroad through trade missions and visits. The networking they do and their engagement with the local community at all levels, as members of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, is an essential platform for our bilateral relations and for the work of the State agencies. I wish to acknowledge the work of this committee in that regard. It is helpful to me in my work and is also helpful to the Government. The work projects, in terms of Irish values, expand our influence, secure our place in Europe, support our people abroad, and foster our continued prosperity. These remain our high level goals. I believe it is important that we engage at the highest level.

We look at our pre-existing market funds in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, designed to support larger initiatives and projects and spanning a number of countries and of course, in the context of Brexit, the need to ensure a greater level of market diversification and intensification. That is a core focus for team Ireland overseas. Our export trade council meets regularly, we have expanded further now in the context of the challenge of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. We also have the full and active participation of the Minister for Education and Skills and his officials with particular reference to international education and the drive to capture a greater share of that market.

Our trade division funds a range of activities associated with joint economic commissions with four countries: China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. It also supports the cultural and economic work of missions through the development of materials, exhibitions and funding for translation. All engage in a comprehensive and ever challenging programme of international activity. I want to acknowledge its important role and function.

In conclusion, it is my belief that the reconfiguration of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2011 with the inclusion of the trade promotion label has been extremely important and will continue to play a very important role in the context of our engagement internationally. The Department of Foreign Affairs is now firmly the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That is a primary focus of our international engagement.