Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy on the importance of the points at issue. We have been engaged in a review of our personnel and have put into effect something of a redeployment, but this involves much more than the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, has a particular role to play. However, my Department will support Enterprise Ireland's international trade mission, scheduled for the rest of this year, which will include missions to northern Europe, the USA, China, India and other high growth markets. IDA Ireland is liaising directly with its more than 1,200 client companies and potential investors to work with them on the implications of the vote. New opportunities may arise for Ireland in some sectors, many of which already form part of the IDA’s marketing strategy. Our embassies will, of course, continue to support and co-ordinate work on the ground with local market teams. In the period leading up to the referendum, I consulted the export trade council on a number of occasions and, following the result, I have now convened a further meeting of the council, which will shortly bring together Ministries, State agencies and interested parties, including private sector representatives, to co-ordinate our efforts and intensify our work on this important issue.

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