Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The "Promoting Ireland Abroad" conference in June enabled interaction with all of my Department's senior overseas representatives, Irish business leaders and heads of Irish economic agencies. The Taoiseach and I outlined the Government's approachto promoting Ireland as open for business and set out the role of the State's diplomatic networks in this regard. I set as a priority our contribution to renewed and sustainable growth by promoting Ireland's economic and trading interests, cultural and scientific profile and reputation internationally in close co-operation with other Departments and agencies. Responsibility for certain trade functions transferred to my Department on 1 June. I now chair the new Export Trade Council, which has held its inaugural meeting and which aims at creating a more co-ordinated approach to promoting our trade, tourism and investment sectors.

Last month's Global Irish Economic Forum allowed the opportunity for a discussion of our priorities for economic renewal with key members of the international business community and for strengthening our ties with the Irish diaspora. The forum was marked by a high level of enthusiasm among the participants. The global Irish network in particular will be an important partner in our efforts to restore our international reputation.

I have led a number of trade missions, including to Japan and South Korea last month and to Moscow this week. My colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is leading a trade mission to South Africa. The diplomatic network has also had significant involvement in a range of economic promotion activities, including trade missions led by other Ministers.

Aside from the closures of the three missions mentioned in an earlier question, there are ongoing efforts to explore greater efficiencies in our external representation. To this end, I am extending the pilot scheme that provides for missions with only one diplomat. I have also carried out an internal restructuring of the Department in Dublin aimed at organising work on a more geographical basis with new regional units having lead responsibility in the management of the fullest possible range of relations with their particular countries. The restructuring is designed to meet the need for more focused and efficient delivery of services and policy goals and should result in more coherent and efficient outputs.

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