Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of trade missions undertaken by him from 1 January 2010 to date in 2011; the number of jobs secured on each mission; the total investment secured on each mission; the total cost to the Exchequer of each mission in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33731/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Since being appointed Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in March last, to date I have undertaken a total of 5 Missions abroad. These have been either Trade Missions, leading client companies of Enterprise Ireland in support of their export drive in foreign markets, or Investment Missions, in support of IDA Ireland's work in attracting Foreign Direct Investment to this country. In addition, the Minister for Small Business, Deputy John Perry T.D., led one Trade Mission, to Australia.

The details requested are set out in the table. In the case of the Investment Missions, it is not possible to establish a direct relationship between the number of jobs created or investment secured in any one year to discussions/marketing undertaken in that year. The business of FDI generation is a complex process that takes place over a period of time and is not necessarily completed immediately following the Investment Mission.

The issue of jobs secured or total investment secured does not arise at all in the case of Trade Missions. These are intended to open opportunities to generate exporter connections in the case of new exporters or to help established exporters build on existing export success and so the benefits flowing from such missions are realised over time. The continued strong interest from companies in participating demonstrates clearly the value they place on trade missions.