Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 189: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if all market access plans have been updated and evaluated; if not, when this will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20064/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Under the Government's trade strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, local market teams, led by the Ambassador and including representatives of the relevant State Agencies, have been established in each of Ireland's 27 priority markets. Each team is tasked with preparing an annual local market plan which is reviewed at mid-year and end-year stages. These plans generally identify areas where a co-ordinated approach to the promotion of Ireland's economic and trading interests by the Embassy and the relevant State Agencies can produce more effective outcomes.

At the second meeting of the Export Trade Council, which I chaired on 16 February 2012, the local market plans for 2012 were discussed. The mid-year reviews for this year will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the Council.

Policy on market access issues in the European Union and the World Trade Organisation is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.