Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that Irish products are sufficiently competitive on world export markets; if he has taken action to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15786/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that Irish export markets are sufficiently well placed to meet competition in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15791/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 146 together.

Statistics for Merchandise Trade performance in 2006 show that these exports increased by 2% on 2005. Exports from Enterprise Ireland's client base of indigenous companies is expected to show a significantly higher increase. This is a very creditable performance, against a background of a difficult global trading environment, and shows that Irish exports have remained competitive on world markets. Roughly similar gains were made in the previous two years. In relation to Services exports, the rate of growth is very impressive, with these exports growing by 17% last year, which followed increases of 9% and 14% respectively, in the previous two years.

The strategy of diversifying our export markets abroad, by concentrating on the wider EU, the US and Asia and the ongoing process of building on the higher value sectors of the economy, particularly in the knowledge-based areas, will ensure that Irish exporters will continue to rise to the challenges posed by the global trading environment and increase the value of their sales incrementally, for the future.