Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Aird. He is right, and before I get directly to the trade impact on agriculture and the work of the trade forum, it is why it is so important that we are going to do even more to support Irish agriculture because there is not a more indigenous industry than agriculture, agrifood and our farming sector. That is why will have to work together on a number of the issues the Deputy has been highlighting, whether it is nitrates, the next round of the Common Agricultural Policy or the simplification of all of those processes for our farmers. We will have to work very closely on those issues as well.

As a small, highly globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on trade. That is why, in February, the Government agreed to my proposal to establish the trade forum. The aim of this is to provide a forum that will directly engage with key stakeholders across government, but also across the business community, on the latest and emerging trade and investment developments. In line with the transfer in responsibilities for trade policy to my Department in the programme for Government, I chair that forum. My intention is for the forum to meet regularly. We have already had two meetings. The first meeting took place on 26 February. A second meeting took place on 21 March to consider recent developments in the EU-US trading relationship. I have now convened a further meeting for this Friday to assess the announcements that are likely to come from the United States tomorrow.

The Government trade forum considers the opportunities to further build on Ireland’s strong trade performance and the current and potential challenges. It focuses on the entirety of our country's trading relationships, including opportunities arising from EU trade agreements, new markets and consideration of how best to advance Ireland’s economic interests with our largest bilateral trading partners.

I have directed officials in my Department to develop a comprehensive work programme to be elaborated on in close consultation with the forum members and this work is under way. Membership of the forum includes Ministers, senior officials from relevant Departments, senior business and sectoral representatives, including from relevant business representative groups and organisations, and senior leadership from our State agencies. Friday is an important opportunity with that forum to stock.

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