Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of civil servants transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since the redeployment of responsibilities for trade to that Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28832/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department retains lead responsibility for trade policy including within the framework of EU Common Commercial policy and the WTO. These functions are directly linked to the sectoral enterprise and investment development responsibilities that are being developed by my Department and Agencies – as it is essential that we maintain a coherent approach between export, enterprise and investment policies. In addition, Export Control Licensing for military or dual use goods will remain in my Department. There are strong links between the licensing and control activity and the enterprise development role and the scientific and technical capacity of the agencies under my remit. In addition, my Department will continue to manage the compilation of detailed trade statistics, covering both exports and imports.

The Transfer of Functions Order which took effect on 1 June, 2011, has strengthened the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade by specifically transferring responsibility to that Department for the management and chairing of key Trade Promotion functions, specifically the Export Trade Council as well as responsibility for Joint Economic Commissions. Following the making of that order, three posts from the Bilateral Trade Unit of this Department were transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade later that month.

The Export Trade Council, now chaired by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, oversees the implementation of the recommendations in Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, which was launched in September 2010. I participate fully in the meetings and work of the new Council. That strategy has brought together all of the relevant agencies and Departments involved in promoting overseas trade, tourism and investment with an integrated approach to achieving a set of agreed priorities and targets for both existing and new high growth potential markets.

Responsibility for the organisation and management of Joint Economic Commissions (JECs), and for setting up any new Joint Economic Commissions, is now also a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Joint Economic Commissions are formal Intergovernmental bodies which provide a forum for discussing issues that relate to the development of economic and business cooperation and scientific and technological cooperation. Ireland currently operates five Joint Economic Commissions with key growth markets. I will work closely with the Tánaiste in planning a rolling programme of Trade missions. Our intention is to maximise the potential of these trade missions, by targeting market sectors and countries where there is significant potential for exports, research and business partnership and investment.