Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will explain the percentage change in invisible exports, using 1997 as a baseline, up until the end of year 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35531/08]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will explain the percentage change in visible exports, using 1997 as a baseline, up until the end of 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35532/08]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

Data on invisible exports (services exports) is not readily available for the year 1997, but during the period 1998 to 2007 the value of these exports rose from €8.859 billion in 1998 to €65.65 billion in 2007, an increase of €56.791 billion, representing a 641% rise during the period.

Data on visible exports (merchandise exports) for the period 1997 to 2007 shows that the value of these exports also rose; from €44.868 billion in 1997 to €89.078 billion in 2007, an increase of €44.21 billion or 99%.

Details of the year-on-year movements for both these export categories are shown on the following table. The data shows that, with the exception of the figures for merchandise exports for 2003, which reflect the global economic slowdown that occurred around that time, the value of exports increased year-on-year for the periods in question.