Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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418. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to undertake a trade mission to Japan; the way a company can apply for a position on such a delegation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3519/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Japan is a priority market under our Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. In December 2013, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Japan where he met with Prime Minister Abe. Together they launched the Japan-Ireland Partnership for Innovation and Growth. The Taoiseach was accompanied for part of this visit by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D. During this visit it was also announced that Japan was lifting its ban on Irish beef imports, which was a very positive development for our beef industry.

There have been a number of Ministerial visits to Japan with a trade dimension in recent years. In 2011, then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Éamon Gilmore T.D., visited Japan where he attended a series of trade-related events. In 2012, Minister of State Sean Sherlock, in his then role as Minister of State for Research and Innovation, visited Japan as part of an Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led trade mission.

Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led overseas trade missions and events, with the involvement of EI client companies and organised with the active support of my Department’s Embassy network, are an important element of the Government Trade, Tourism, and Investment Strategy, which recognises the valuable role they play in developing and creating new trade, tourism and investment opportunities for Ireland.

Early each year I agree the annual programme of Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led overseas trade missions and events with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, based on the proposals submitted by Enterprise Ireland and focused on the priority markets of interest to their client companies. The programme for 2015 has not yet been finalised but I expect it to be launched in the coming weeks.

I am advised that companies interested in participating in Enterprise Ireland trade missions should make their interest known to the International Sales and Partnering Division of Enterprise Ireland directly.