Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of trade missions he plans to attend in 2013. [41619/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In general, proposals for Ministerial led trade missions are developed by Enterprise Ireland on the basis of priority markets and specific sectoral interests of EI client companies. Enterprise Ireland’s proposals for 2013 are currently under consideration by the agency and have not yet been finalised. Once finalised Enterprise Ireland will submit these proposals to me and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, reflecting the close involvement of both our Departments in trade-related matters. The proposed schedule will take account of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU that will place particular demands on Ministerial time during the first half of 2013. For the remainder of 2012, a number of trade missions are planned that will include emerging markets such as Brazil, South Africa, India and Malaysia/Vietnam as well as to Italy, Japan, the UK and Canada where our exporters are already well established. Their purpose is to bring Irish businesses into direct contact with business opportunities abroad. Such missions are a valuable support to Irish businesses, in terms of establishing their credibility with and gaining access to the business community in the target market. This is particularly the case in countries where government-to-government contacts are a prerequisite for doing business. These trade missions are an integral part of the work of relevant Government Departments and Agencies to develop and expand Ireland’s exports to existing and new markets. They raise Ireland’s profile as a world–class supplier of goods and services and contribute to the generation of incremental sales to foreign markets over the long-term.