Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is planning to go on any trade missions in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42654/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, proposals for Trade Missions to be led at Ministerial level in 2012 were submitted by Enterprise Ireland last December simultaneously to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and to me for consideration and approval. The agreed programme for this year was presented to the Export Trade Council at its 16 February meeting. It is still too early to discuss the EI programme of Trade Missions for 2013, having regard also to ongoing Ministerial travel planning related to our EU Presidency. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I seek to promote Ireland’s trade interests wherever possible, whether at targeted events organised by Enterprise Ireland or in the course of broader working visits.

My colleague, the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, has also been active in promoting Ireland’s trade interests overseas and has led a number of Trade Missions during the course of the year. He most recently led an EI Trade Mission to Brazil organised in conjunction with the President’s visit to Latin America. He will participate in Enterprise Ireland trade events and business meetings in Rome on 17-18 October and lead Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Mission to South Africa on 12 to 14 November.