Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

At the Government meeting on 24 May 2011 an order was made to transfer part of the trade function from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, now the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, now the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The order came into effect on 1 June 2011 and it has strengthened the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in trade promotion by specifically transferring responsibility to that Department for the management and chairing of key trade promotion functions, specifically the Trade Council, as well as responsibility for joint economic commissions.

The Trade Council, now to be chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, oversees the implementation of the recommendations in Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, which was launched in September last. This strategy has brought together of the relevant agencies and Departments involved in promoting overseas trade, tourism and investment, with an integrated approach.

Responsibility for the organisation and management of joint economic commissions and for setting up any new joint economic commissions is now also a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Joint economic commissions are formal intergovernmental bodies in specific high-growth markets.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade now has a very visible and tangible role in trade promotion, my Department retains lead responsibility for trade policy, including within the framework of EU common commercial policy and the World Trade Organisation. These discussions are directly linked to the sectoral enterprise and investment policies which are being developed by my Department and agencies and it is essential we maintain a coherent approach between export and investment policies. In addition, export control licensing for the export of military or dual use goods will remain in my Department. There are strong links between the licensing and control of export function and my Department's enterprise development role. My Department will continue to manage the compilation of detailed trade statistics covering exports and imports.

I will work closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in planning trade mission programmes for the months ahead. Our intention is to maximise the potential of these trade missions to bring Irish businesses from trade, investment and tourism sectors into direct contact with business opportunities abroad by targeting sectors and countries where there is significant potential.

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