Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the practical advantages of trade being assimilated into his Department; the progress that has been made as a result of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44905/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The promotion of Ireland’s economic and trading interests overseas has been and remains a strategic priority for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy Network. Alongside its foreign policy, diplomatic and consular functions, the Embassy Network is a key platform for the promotion of Ireland’s trade, investment and tourism objectives. A significant part of my Department’s contribution to national economic recovery has centred on using the Embassy Network to disseminate the Government’s economic message and help restore our international reputation. The transfer of certain trade promotion functions to my Department on 1 June last year was in one sense a formal recognition of the trade promotion work carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic and consular missions over many years. The most significant institutional innovation was establishment under the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Export Trade Council, which I chair, and which oversees coordination and implementation of the Government’s Trade Strategy.

The Deputy will be aware that the Trade Strategy sets out concrete targets in trade, tourism and investment to be met by 2015 as well as a programme of actions conducive to achieving these targets. The responsible Ministers and Heads of State Agencies are members of the Export Trade Council as are senior representatives of certain other Departments and, importantly, a number of private sector individuals with relevant experience. The Council has met three times, most recently on 20 September. Earlier this year, I reported to Government on progress in implementing the Strategy in 2011.

The Trade and Promotion Division of my Department supports the work of the Export Trade Council. This involves regular engagement at Headquarters with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Culture Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland as well as other Departments in order to build a Team Ireland approach both at home and abroad. The Division also acts as the interface between the Embassy Network and other relevant Government Departments, the State Agencies and the private sector. Ireland’s bilateral relations, economic as well as political, with other countries are the responsibility of geographical Divisions and Units of my Department. Trade and Promotion Division liaises with them, particularly with respect to the priority countries identified under the Trade Strategy.

Local market teams, chaired by Ambassadors with State Agency participation, are in place in all these priority countries. The local teams’ market plans for 2012 were reviewed by the Export Trade Council in February, their mid- year progress reports in September. On foot of guidance from the Council, we aim to further increase the value of mid- and end-year progress reports by sharpening their focus on the impact of actions taken on the realisation of agreed objectives. The local market teams are gradually becoming better coordinated and it is notable that shared effort is not confined to standout promotional occasions such as St Patrick’s Day and high level visits. All concerned understand that it is imperative that optimum use is made of State resources in support of the objectives of the Trade Strategy.

Another area where progress has been made since my Department assumed certain trade promotion functions is the annual programme of Minister-led Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions. In December, Enterprise Ireland now submits a draft programme for the following year to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and to me. The programme is agreed between our two Departments and presented to the Export Trade Council. My Department manages the missions led by the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Mr. Joe Costello TD., and by me. This year, we have led Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions to Turkey, Russia, the UK and Brazil; before the end of the year, Minister Costello will also lead missions to Italy and to South Africa.

Finally, my Department now co-ordinates the Joint Economic Commissions with a number of high growth and emerging countries. Following my co–Chairmanship of the Ireland Russia Joint Economic Commission in Moscow in November 2011, a delegation of Russian officials, including co chairs of the sectoral working groups established in areas of mutual interest, met their Irish counterparts here in May and agreed a work programme. The China-Ireland JEC will meet here on Friday, preceded by a first meeting of a Joint Investment Promotion Working Group. On 30 November, the Irish side will host the Joint Economic Commission with South Korea.