Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and or his Department have monitored the level and value of imports into this country; the extent to which such products are displacing Irish manufactured goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent full year trade figures published by the Central Statistics Office relate to 2006. While recognising that the level of imports of goods into Ireland is increasing, the figures show that the level of increase has slowed in the last number of years. Between the years 2004 and 2005 imports rose from €51.105 billion to €57.465 billion, a rise of €6.360 billion or 12.44%, while between 2005 and 2006 imports rose from €57.465 billion to €60.693 billion, a rise of €3.233 billion or 5.62%. This slowing in the level of imports is all the more significant considering that it occurred in the face of sharp increases in energy costs, not just here in Ireland, but worldwide.

The figures also show that there is continued growth in our exports, rising from €84.409 billion in 2004 to €86.892 billion in 2006. An inevitable consequence of increased production of goods for export, especially in the specialised sectors of the economy, is that component and raw materials for those sectors will be required to drive the increased manufacture of additional goods. While these are sourced in Ireland wherever feasible, inevitably a proportion of input items, including petroleum and its products, can only be sourced overseas.

This is a practical and efficient way of doing business — Irish manufacturers increasingly produce high quality, added value goods and services; their ability to successfully market and sell internationally depends in no small measure on their capacity to source inputs at competitive prices, whether domestically or abroad.

It is to be expected that, in a small open economy such as ours, sections of the Irish enterprise base will face competition on the domestic market from overseas competition. The ability of Irish firms to successfully market and sell their goods in overseas markets rather than simply focus domestically will be a critical factor for their future growth and the future success of the Irish economy.

I would like to assure the Deputy that Enterprise Ireland, the agency with responsibility for the development of manufacturing and internationally traded services of indigenous companies, is acutely aware of the significant challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of globalisation and increased global competition. The agency does and will continue to work very closely with its client companies to help them grow and develop both here in Ireland and on world markets.