William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress of the Government trade forum, which he chairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15189/25]

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Tánaiste to outline the progress of the Government trade forum. In a time of economic uncertainty, I believe the role of this forum is crucial in ensuring that Ireland remains competitive on the global stage. For sectors like agriculture, one of the cornerstones of our economy, trade policy can mean the difference between growth and decline.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Take, for example, dairy farmers, who produce some of the finest milk and cheese in this world. As export markets shift due to changing trade agreements and external tariffs, these farmers need clarity on the Government's efforts to secure stable routes for their high-quality produce. Also, beef farmers who have long relied on the international markets are facing new challenges in light of global price fluctuations and competition from non-EU producers. The Government trade forum must play a role in ensuring that fair trade agreements protect Irish farmers from unfair disadvantages while opening new opportunities abroad.

We cannot forget our tillage sector. It depends on affordable access to fertiliser and machinery. Rising costs due to trade barriers could impact both productivity and profitability in this area. It is crucial that the forum examines how to secure supply chains and reduce these risks.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I very much agree with Deputy Aird. First, with regard to dairy, that is why, when we were looking at the list of tariffs that may be reactivated by the European Union, specifically in my submission to the European Commission on behalf of the Government I highlighted the dairy concern we had and also the drinks industry concern. On foot of what the Deputy said, I will make sure that in the work programme for the Government trade forum that specific issue around agriculture, agrifood and supply chains is addressed, including the issue of the tillage sector. As I said in my answer, the trade forum as we can imagine is right now most immediately looking at the US-EU trade relationship, but we have made it very clear that it is to look at the totality of Ireland's trading relationship, including ensuring that there is fair trade with regard to any future agreements. My concerns and the concerns of our party and the concerns of Government with regard to Mercosur in its current form are very clear. We made those commitments very clearly to the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and farmers in advance of the election and they are very clearly expressed in the programme for Government.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Will the Tánaiste outline the strategy that the Government trade forum will use in addressing the concerns of the agri-sector? What steps will it take to protect Ireland? I urge the Tánaiste to use the Government trade forum as a mechanism to ensure that not only Ireland's farmers and agri-businesses, but all small businesses in Ireland have the support they need.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I absolutely will. The principal purpose of the trade forum is to bring representative groups and relevant Ministers, Departments and agencies around the table. I am pleased to say that a full and permanent member of the trade forum is our Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon. Also represented on that are his senior officials, the Secretary General of the Department of agriculture and the chief executive of Bord Bia, which obviously has an important relevance to this discussion as well. The purpose here is to enable the trading and exchanging of information and insight so that when we go to Europe, we can best protect Irish interests, Irish businesses and Irish farmers. I find it already in its relatively short time in existence to be a very valuable forum in making sure that everybody involved in Team Ireland, if I can use that phrase, is putting their best foot forward. I have to be honest with people - this is a turbulent and difficult time. We cannot control what the President of the United States decides he is going to do, but we can try to intelligently respond and build alliances across the European Union, and to do that we need to get the best insights from industry and from relevant Ministers, including the Minister for agriculture.