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 take part in any forthcoming trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45672/12]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to part take in a trade mission in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48011/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together.

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. Enterprise Ireland is currently preparing proposals for Ministerial Trade Missions in 2013 which will be transmitted both to me and to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for consideration and approval.

My colleague, the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, is also active in promoting Ireland’s trade interests overseas and has led a number of Trade Missions during the course of the year. Most recently, he led an EI Trade Mission to Brazil organised in conjunction with the President’s visit to Latin America and he participated in Enterprise Ireland trade events and business meetings in Rome. He is currently leading Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Mission to South Africa.