Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I welcome the fact that we will not see the establishment of a second body to function in this particular area. The subsuming of the foreign trade council into the new export trade council is to be welcomed.

In the spirit of what was instigated by the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, in broadcasting legislation whereby he began the process of consulting with committees in advance of the appointment of boards or agencies, a matter alluded to on many occasions in the House by the Taoiseach who has given undertakings that prior to constituting State boards committees would be consulted, will consultation take place with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on the terms of reference and membership of the proposed trade council?

It is difficult to be overwhelmed by what is proposed by the Government at this stage on overseas trade missions. They are very important. Is the Tánaiste awaiting the appointment of the trade council before he embarks on overseas trade missions? With all due respect, the less we see of him in the House in the weeks and months ahead the better because we believe he will be a very good ambassador for the country on trade missions. We want to hear of him visiting many countries and doing the promotional work that so badly needs to be done.

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