Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will cover some of it anyway. I very much agree with the Deputy's remarks in respect of boots on the ground. There is no substitution for having boots on the ground or personal contact. It has to happen. Virtual engagement is great, but it is no substitute for individual personal contact and having boots on the ground. We are doing exactly that - increasing our embassies, embassy staff, counsuls and agency staff on the ground, not just through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland which fall under my remit, but also through Bord Bia, for example, and Tourism Ireland. It is making a difference.

Trade missions are a big part of what we do. Having been on several of them, the Deputy knows what difference they make. It is almost like endorsing companies in many parts of the world. If a company is on a trade mission with the Government, that is seen as an endorsement that it is a good company and can be believed. It also gives companies access to meetings at a level they would not get if they were not part of the trade mission and maybe the Minister was not in the room. I wish we could do more of them. I only managed to get two done last year because of the restrictions. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, did several of them. We are hoping that Omicron will not put paid to trade missions because we would like to do quite a lot of them next year, if possible.

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