Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for the expansion and promotion of trade and commerce nationally and internationally with the objective of assisting with economic recovery; if he has set specific targets for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29121/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The agreed Programme for Government sets out clearly that Ireland's economic recovery must be export-led. That Programme commits us to achieve the maximum growth in exports, including the long-term development of new markets. The Government has given a commitment to progressively implement the recommendations in the strategy and action plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, entitled Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, developed by my Department last year, which will, inter alia, position Ireland to develop better trade relationships with emerging economies. That Strategy takes a two-pronged approach, focussing on particular markets and also on sectors.

In terms of markets, it identifies potential to further grow our existing key markets – and, most particularly, to increase or gain a foothold in high-growth and high-potential markets, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and key Middle eastern countries. That Strategy has set a number of specific targets for our performance in key areas, to be achieved by 2015. Those targets, agreed by the relevant State Agencies – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland - are to be implemented through a suite of actions driven by the agencies concerned.

Reporting on the progress of these actions will be co-ordinated by the Export Trade Council that held its first meeting on 29th September last, in which I participated. .At this meeting I set out my Department's priorities in relation to trade policy and how the new Council's activities can work with the wider enterprise agenda of my Department.

Key instruments to pursue trade expansion are, of course, Trade Missions and an ongoing programme of such Missions is underway. I led a mission to India earlier this year and I have just returned from another to the south-eastern United States. Minister of State Perry led a mission to Australia last month. These specific markets all present exciting opportunities for Irish companies to promote our exports, and are in addition, of course, to our on-going work in the more established export markets.

Our strong export performance is having a significant impact on economic recovery, with Net Exports having been a significant contributor to GDP over the last few years and continuing to do so in 2011. For that first six months of this year Merchandise Exports have grown by 7% and Services Exports by 8 % over the same period in 2010.

With my responsibility for trade policy, I am engaged in the promotion of Ireland's trade interests through, for example, the negotiation of Free Trade Agreements between the EU and third countries. A Free Trade Agreement is now under negotiation with India and another with South Korea came into effect on 1 July this year. I also place a particular emphasis on promoting less restrictive global trade arrangements by means of the current round of world trade talks at the World Trade Organisation and developing new opportunities for exporters by reductions in tariff and non-tariff barriers through trade and regulatory discussions between the EU and China, Russia, Brazil and the United States. The ongoing success of our exporters should sustain and expand jobs at home and also contribute to economic recovery in the domestic economy.

Question No. 88 answered with Question No. 9.

Questions Nos. 89 and 90 answered with Question No. 83.