Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The reference by the Deputy to a 1.8% increase in export growth for 2005, from a report published by the ESRI, refers to the total volume growth of Irish exports in 2005. Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that the total value of Irish merchandise exports for 2005 increased by 5% on 2004 export figures. This follows a 2% increase in the value of Irish exports between 2003 and 2004.

It has become common practice internationally to regard the value of exports, rather than volume, as the key measure of export performance. In an increasingly sophisticated economy, such as ours, where production is moving up the value chain towards higher-tech, higher value added products and services, the value of Irish exports is a much more appropriate measure than the volume of exports.

On that basis, the increase of 5% in the value of our exports in 2005, relative to 2004, continues the upward trend, which, with the exception of the global economic slowdown which occurred around 2002, has been a feature of our export performance since the early 1990s. I am heartened by the continuous improvement in our export performance against a difficult background of continuing low growth rates in the European and US economies in recent times. Given the very difficult economic circumstances in certain of our key export markets, any increase in export performance is a significant achievement and a rise of 5% is, therefore, admirable indeed.

The Irish Government is strongly supportive of Irish exporting firms seeking to increase their level of exports on world markets. My Department, through its agency, Enterprise Ireland, is active both nationally at developmental level and, through promotional activities carried out from a range of locations abroad, in assisting Irish indigenous companies to find new markets for their products and to increase their existing level of market share. Through its network of 33 international offices, Enterprise Ireland creates and implements successful strategies for market entry, development and growth in overseas markets. The activities of this network include arranging access to international buyers and increasing in-market trade promotion activities; increasing the number of overseas missions, raising the level of participation at trade shows and increasing the number and quality of incoming buyers; seeking to ensure increased international media coverage of the range of product and service providers in Ireland and the benefits of doing business here; and continuing to increase the number of incubation centres in key overseas markets, thus providing a low-cost market mechanism for clients with strong potential.

In this work, close co-ordination is maintained with other export promotion organisations, such as Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and non-governmental bodies such as the Irish Exporters Association. Enterprise Ireland is also assisted by our Irish Embassies abroad in facilitating the development of export markets for Irish exporting companies. In addition, the Taoiseach, my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for trade and commerce, Deputy Michael Ahern, and I have been active in leading trade missions and will continue to do so, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, to existing, long-established markets and to the new EU member states, as well as to Asia, with a view to increasing the share of exports by Irish companies worldwide.

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