Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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284. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the total number of trade missions that he or a Minister for State within his Department, has been on since becoming Minister; the country for each of these missions; the name of each business, with operations here, which accompanied him on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro each business who accompanied him is doing since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49234/13]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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285. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the total number of trade missions Enterprise Ireland have been on where neither a Minister nor a Minister of State has been present since March of 2011; if he will provide the country for each of these missions; the names of each Irish business who accompanied them on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro terms each business who accompanied Enterprise Ireland is doing with that country since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49235/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

Enterprise Ireland is the Government agency responsible for the development and internationalisation of Irish enterprises. Enterprise Ireland has 30 offices worldwide to help Irish firms develop overseas markets. Each year, Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted international trade missions, market visits, participation in international trade fairs and a large number of international buyer visits to Ireland focussed on assisting Irish firms target and secure international contracts and overseas partners. In Ireland, Enterprise Ireland works directly with Irish firms to help them start up, develop their businesses, build competitiveness and innovate.

The impact of trade missions together with the many other sales, marketing and trade promotion efforts of Enterprise Ireland are reflected in the growth in exports of Enterprise Ireland clients and the jobs they sustain and create. As announced earlier this year, Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland set a new record for level of exports achieved - €16.2Bn. Export growth was achieved across all overseas territories and this level of growth is greatly supported by an extensive promotional programme, including trade events, trade fairs and trade missions.

Enterprise Ireland does not release the names of companies that accompany Ministers on trade missions as this is commercially sensitive information. Enterprise Ireland is not in a position to provide the total costs of these trade missions or a list of the contracts signed and announced on each mission in the time provided. However, Enterprise Ireland will compile this information and, through my Department, will forward it to the Deputy. Enterprise Ireland meets the costs of flights and accommodation of the Minister and accompanying officials for trade missions. Information on these costs will also be provided shortly to the Deputy. The list of trade missions which I or a Minister of State at my Department hasbeen on since I came to office are outlined in the following table.

I understand the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is answering a similar question in relation to St. Patrick's Day Trade Events.