Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if work has commenced on devising a new trade strategy; if he will indicate the number of staff and sections of his Department involved in this; and if he will indicate the input of Ireland's embassies in the process, on account of their valuable expertise and knowledge of foreign economies and markets. [1472/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 17 January 2013, the Government decided to initiate a short focused review of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy which covers the period to 2015. This decision was reiterated in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, under Action Point 202: "In cooperation with all relevant Departments and agencies, carry out a short and focused review of the Government Trade Strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy."

A Review Group was established comprising representatives *of the relevant Government Departments and State agencies, chaired by the Trade and Promotion Division in my Department. The establishment of the Review Group was in the context of the Export Trade Council, which I chair, given its role in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the Strategy. Terms of reference for the review were agreed at the first meeting in June and it has had five meetings in total. The drafting of the review has taken account of detailed input from Departments, State agencies, the Embassy network and Local Market Teams in priority markets, chaired by our Ambassadors and including State agency personnel overseas. All stakeholders were given an opportunity to provide input on the key issues to be considered by the review. The geographical Divisions and Units in my Department have also been involved in the review.

The review is taking place in parallel to a number of other complimentary initiatives, including the review of the International Education Strategy; the Public Consultation on Tourism Policy; the preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014; the Medium Term Economic Strategy and the Review of Ireland’s Foreign Policy and External Relations. In addition, a number of State agencies are in the process of developing three year strategies, which will be completed outside the timeline of this review.

The review was also discussed by a working group under the heading "Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy - Toward a Renewed Approach" at the Global Irish Economic Forum in October 2013. I presented a progress report on the review to the fifth meeting of the Export Trade Council on 7 November 2013. As the Deputy will be aware, the Council brings together the relevant Government Ministers and Departments, State agencies and private sector members. A comprehensive report on implementation of the Strategy was also provided to the Council.

It is envisaged that the review will be presented in the coming weeks.

^*Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; Department of the Taoiseach; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Education and Skills; Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Revenue Commissioners; IDA Ireland; Enterprise Ireland; Tourism Ireland; Bord Bia; Culture Ireland; Forfás; and Science Foundation Ireland.