Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I know the Tánaiste and I will be happy to engage with the committee. We do not want to delay the establishment and we have agreed it will be established by the end of the month. The final arrangements are being put in place. An important difference is that as well as State agencies and Ministries, individuals directly involved in exporting will be on the council. There is a time factor involved in engaging with the committee prior to the first meeting of the export trade council. However, the Minister and I will be happy to engage with the committee on an ongoing basis.

With regard to trade missions, I am sure the Tánaiste takes the compliment the Deputy offered. Information on trade missions is given to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Such information from Enterprise Ireland has been conveyed on a number of proposals for this year. Any time the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, and I are abroad on Government, development or European business we have ensured the work we do has a trade element. Trade missions will be jointly informed to the two Departments and will be led by Ministers or Ministers of State. I assure the Deputy that we will all work very hard along with our embassies and State agencies to ensure we develop in every corner of the world every trading opportunity we can for the country.

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