Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied himself that trade balances are sufficiently favourable to the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15784/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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For over ten years, Ireland has had a very significant surplus on its merchandise exports. For example, last year we had a surplus of €28.3bn on exports of €88.7bn. This is an extremely healthy position. In relation to services trade, where data is not as well developed, we had a deficit last year of €8.3bn on services exports of €54bn and that deficit has been declining over the last few years. The combined trade surplus last year, counting both merchandise and services trade, was €20bn, an improvement of almost €1bn on the previous year.