Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if export stimulus measures will be considered as part of an economic recovery programme. [10308/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is strongly committed to the development of exports as a driver to boost the economy and sustain employment. Our enterprise support measures are geared towards helping companies to grow and sell on world markets. Enterprise Ireland is the State agency charged with helping indigenous enterprises to increase their exports in existing and new markets. The agency is active nationally, at the developmental level, and internationally, in assisting Irish indigenous companies to find new markets for their products and increase their existing level of market share. Through its network of international offices, Enterprise Ireland creates and implements successful strategies for market entry, development and growth in overseas markets. IDA Ireland client companies account for a significant proportion of overall exports. The IDA has designed a range of measures to help client companies to embed their employment, output and exports. Within the last two weeks, the Taoiseach has announced the establishment of an enterprise stabilisation fund to support viable but vulnerable exporting companies. This fund is an important first step in the process of concerted support for our trading enterprises.

Against the backdrop of the current global economic downturn, a range of additional measures is being assessed with a view to further helping exporting companies. Various proposals have been suggested. A thorough assessment of possible supports will be finalised soon. In addition, several major instruments have been introduced to support enterprises generally. The bank recapitalisation scheme, which includes provision to increase lending capacity to small and medium-sized enterprises by 10%, was one such carefully designed measure. This major development, coupled with a new code of practice on business lending, will be a crucial source of support for our exporting companies. Having regard to the continued concerns of the business community about credit insurance, an independent study on credit availability has been commissioned by the Department of Finance as part of the bank recapitalisation programme. I understand this study is due to be completed within five or six weeks. A separate review of the export credit insurance market was also carried out at my request. This report is now finalised. I will bring it to the Government for discussion soon.

To help cash flow to businesses, I will shortly introduce on an administrative basis a commitment to reduce the payment period by central Departments to businesses from 30 to 15 days. An assessment of the impact of extending this to the local authority, health and education sectors will be completed by the end of April. Clearly, we need a sustained focus on growing exports to ensure a return to economic growth. I assure the Deputy that I and my colleagues in government are determined to take the necessary measures that will position Ireland, not least its enterprises, its entrepreneurs and its exporters, to weather the current global crisis and emerge optimally positioned to take advantage of the global upturn, when it comes. As the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am convinced that the rigorous and carefully targeted stimulus measures I have set out will not only support but serve to regenerate the strength and capacity of Irish business in every sector.