Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the increase in the number of people employed in exporting companies; and his plans to increase the number of existing business that have an export potential. [41620/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Driving export growth is central to our economic recovery and is a key focus of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs. CSO figures show that the strong export performance is continuing. On a seasonally adjusted basis, goods exports in July increased by 6% on the June figure. The statistics also show that the seasonally adjusted trade surplus, at just under €4 billion, increased by over 12% in July as compared to June; and that exports in July 2012, at almost €8 billion, showed a 13% increase over the July 2011 figure. This is the latest in a growing list of positive signs in the international environment. I am determined, through continued implementation of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, to ensure we can accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy, keep growing our exports and create the jobs we need. Central to the Action Plan is ensuring greater access for Irish companies to real opportunities to break into new markets, grow their exports and create much needed jobs for this economy. In 2011, jobs in exporting companies started to grow again for the first time after three years of contraction, with 21,800 gross gains in full time jobs in Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland supported companies. The Government is determined to build on this in 2012 by improving supports like the establishment of the new Potential Exporters Division in Enterprise Ireland. Its role is to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions and to reorient those demonstrating real growth potential from the domestic to the international market place.

Enterprise Ireland’s 29 overseas offices and international networks have an important role to play in the internationalisation of its established and start-up client companies, through positioning them to meet the needs of specific international market and guiding them in the right direction regarding market contacts and introductions to potential buyers. On 17 September last, I launched Enterprise Ireland's Annual International Markets Week. This event is Enterprise Ireland’s single largest client event and a significant part of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to drive Irish exports to support business growth and jobs in Ireland. During the course of the week, 697 client companies held 2,273 meetings with export advisers to discuss their international growth strategies and help them break into export markets. This event gives Irish companies the opportunity to discuss and explore their international growth strategies with Enterprise Ireland's team of overseas market advisers and agree specific actions, which Enterprise Ireland will undertake on their behalf in international markets.Government policy is to build on the strength of our existing markets and diversify into new ones. Ministerial-led Trade Missions are an integral part of this process, particularly in countries where government-to-government contracts are a prerequisite for doing business and I have first-hand experience of the importance of these Trade Missions for Irish companies seeking to win overseas contracts.