Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Government on pursuing this initiative, which was commenced by the previous Government. It makes sense that the Department and our embassies, in particular, would have a critical role to play as promotional agents and a shop window for Ireland. I am unimpressed at the diary of trade missions in which Ministers are proposing to take part but perhaps there are plans we have not heard about. Will the Minister of State elaborate on that?

The establishment of an export trade council is a key element of the programme for Government. While we support this, I was a little concerned by a reply to a parliamentary question by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, in which he suggested there may be no need for the council. He stated: "The Government is conscious of the need to avoid establishing new groups and bodies unless absolutely necessary and, therefore, will consider whether any amendments to the membership and terms of reference are needed to realign the existing foreign trade council with the objectives of the Government". Will there be an export trade council or not? The Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation seems to be at odds with the Minister of State and this is not the first area of divergence we have discovered within Government. Will the Minister of State chair the council, if it is established?

See this speech in context