Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation when the promised Foreign Trade Council will be established; the proposed membership and terms of reference of the council; the staffing and resources that will be allocated to the council; the annual estimated budget for the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36373/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the role his Department will play in the implementation of the recently published plan, Trading and Investment in a Smart Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36372/10]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to provide a breakdown of the jobs that will be created under the trading and investing in a smart economy strategy; the location of the jobs that will be created; the timeline for the creation of these jobs and when they will materialise; the way the strategy will be funded; the way the jobs will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36176/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106 and 122 together.

Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, a Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, is an integrated strategy that is global in scope and covers both existing and new high growth potential markets. It has set a number of ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015 i.e. to create 150,000 new jobs (manufacturing, tourism and traded services). The jobs total figure of 150,000 direct new jobs, is from agency estimates based on their growth targets over the strategy period to the end of 2015 i.e. 75,000 (IDA-Ireland), 60,000 (Enterprise Ireland) and 15,000 in the tourism sector. The new strategy also foresees the creation of a similar number of new indirect jobs. This latter figure takes into account the differing impacts from new jobs in manufacturing and services based on the numbers of projects, job intensity, purchase of raw materials and services, re-spending of salaries, and impact of taxation.

The overall objective of the strategy and action plan is to marshal and coordinate the resources of the State in a way that best supports firms, of all sizes, in all parts of the country, which are trying to trade and grow their business overseas. Its implementation will result in the sustained, concentrated and coordinated efforts of all the key Government Departments and agencies, including our embassies and consulates abroad in support for Irish companies in overseas markets. Departments and agencies will implement the strategy and action plan from within their current budgets.

The strategy presents a suite of actions for building on existing strengths and driving trade relations in existing as well as new and emerging economies. These actions are aimed at: strengthening Ireland's international image and brand; strengthening in-country presence and support; developing and internationalising our enterprise base; developing Ireland as a hub for global high-technology enterprises and clusters; aligning visa policy with priorities in the strategy; support for SMEs; continuing to develop international trade agreements; joint actions and partnerships with other countries; effective engagement with the business community.

The new Foreign Trade Council to drive implementation of the strategy and action plan will hold its inaugural meeting on 27 October 2010. The terms of reference and membership will be in line with Section 6.11 of the Strategy. The membership will comprise of the relevant Departments and agencies. It will be managed by my Department from within existing resources.