Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

During and following the talks on the programme for Government, the party leaders decided that, when the Ministries were shaped, they would revert to their previous model. I am open to correction if I am wrong on this, but I understand that trade was moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs when Eamon Gilmore became Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Tánaiste. This was done to reflect the Tánaiste's office's desire to have a role in international trade and to link it to foreign policy. From my experience as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, an experience which the Chairman has also had, I have seen that, in reality, most trade promotion happens through agencies linked to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Trade fairs, trade promotion more broadly and responsibility for World Trade Organisation trade rules and so on are all under the remit of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation rather than that of the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was therefore felt that the more natural home for those agencies and their associated expertise was that Department.

Cultural officers remain under the Department of Foreign Affairs. We have a number of country plans, including plans for North America, Germany, France and the UK. We believe that the promotion of Irish culture is a big part of the Irish message that helps us to connect with other countries in a very positive way. We see that in a very real way in places like Canada, the US, Australia, the UK and, increasingly, in Germany with regard to Irish literature and music. This initiative is very much part of foreign relations. It is not just about economics and politics. It is also about culture and heritage. We are getting more money all of the time to invest in our diplomatic footprint all over the world but we have made the policy decision that the trade elements of that, particularly trade promotion, trade fairs and world trade talks and everything that flows from them, are better placed in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation because that is where the expertise is.