Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for acknowledging the success we enjoyed as a country during the administration of the previous much maligned Government with regard to building up trade with the BRIC countries.

The latest figures available to me for July - the Minister of State may have more recent figures - show exports were worth just over €7 billion which is a decrease of 10% compared with the same month last year. When adjusted for seasonal factors, exports in July were down 12% from June. In addition to this imports increased which narrowed our trade surplus. Is the Minister of State concerned about this? Is it just a blip or has the situation turned around?

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