Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the number of civil servants or other staff from his Department who accompanied him on his recent trade mission to the United States; the number of civil servants from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who accompanied him on this mission; the cost of the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28837/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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On my recent trade mission to the south eastern states of the USA, involving a detailed programme of events in Atlanta, Georgia, Miami, Florida and Raleigh and Charlotte, both in North Carolina, I was accompanied by my private secretary and by one other official from my Department who has responsibility for trade matters. The net cost of this mission was approximately €49,000 and this was borne by Enterprise Ireland. No civil servants from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled from Ireland but the Atlanta-based Irish Consul General accompanied me to several of the events and meetings.

The trade mission involved over 60 Irish companies who are clients of Enterprise Ireland and its aim was to widen the export footprint of Irish exporters by exploring new opportunities in these fast growing south eastern states. As the United States is already one of Ireland's most important trading partners and the largest export market for Irish goods, sustaining export growth there is essential in the continuation of our drive towards export-led growth.

The Government is keen to build on our existing export successes on both the east and west coasts of the US and to pursue further export gains that can be achieved by breaking new ground in other parts of that country. The mission was about showcasing Irish products and services to new areas of the USA.

In the context of this mission, I also met, in association with IDA Ireland, senior representatives of Bank of America to discuss issues arising from their plans for a withdrawal from the Irish and UK credit card market which has implications for the employment of their existing staff here. In addition, I also pursued other foreign direct investment prospects on behalf of IDA Ireland and I also facilitated a Bord Bia food promotion initiative.

As those states are home to institutions and colleges with a renowned reputation for scientific research, especially the North Carolina research triangle, I also facilitated contacts for Science Foundation Ireland and for some Irish companies and educational bodies which were developing their relationships with relevant contacts there.

Ministerial-led trade missions are an integral part of this Department's work to develop and expand Ireland's exports to existing and new markets abroad. It has been the experience of my Department and of the companies participating in such missions, that the presence of a Minister enhances the opportunities for the companies involved and achieves a higher level of recognition and access for companies to the various target markets.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply and I am sure he works very hard. The cost of these trade missions should be kept to a minimum but I must question why no official from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade accompanied the Minister. As he said in a response to an earlier question, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is central to trade promotion. Is this a form of branding exercise? How many civil servants have been transferred from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Minister's Department to deal with trade? Has the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade any significant input into such trade missions or is this work still firmly in the grasp of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation?

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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On the contrary. The south eastern states of the United States have been designated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a key region for trade opportunities. The Department opened the first consular office in Georgia since 1933. The office supported me throughout the entire visit. The consul general is a very talented and expert person. We do not need to bring numbers in order to make an impact. Our approach is to ensure that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a presence on the ground and its representatives do other work besides trade promotion, although this is regarded as a primary task. I was impressed by the number of contacts with business and political contacts that have been established by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its consular office. We built on this work as this is a collaborative process. One does not need to have a large staff complement and a wide-ranging entourage to make an impact.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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I have never been in favour of big entourages. I asked the Minister how many officials have been seconded to his Department from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to deal with trade. The Government made a specific commitment that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would be centrally involved in the promotion of foreign trade. How is this reflected in the deployment of officials in both Departments?

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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That is the subject of a later question and I do not wish to upstage the Member who tabled it. In answer to the Deputy's query, it is a small number of officials. Enterprise Ireland undertakes much of the planning of these trade missions by organising an array of companies which are relevant to the development of trade opportunities in these target markets. We work with the diplomatic representation and this is how the collaborative process evolves. This is not a competition between my Department and the Tánaiste's Department. The number of staff seconded is small but this reflects the fact that much of the spade work is done by Enterprise Ireland with regard to companies with relevant contacts and by the locally-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.