Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times the Export Trade Council has met since its creation; the way membership is determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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My Department has responsibility for the Export Trade Council (ETC), which I chair, and which works to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination across all Government Departments and State agencies, which are involved in the promotion and development of trade, tourism, investment and education. The ETC, which also includes representation from the private sector, also oversees the implementation of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. A Review of the Strategy was published by my Department in February last year.

The members of the ETC include: the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Chair); the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport; the Minister for Agriculture, Food, the Marine and Defence; and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North-South Co-operation. The Minister for Education and Skills has now also joined the ETC, in recognition of the growing contribution the international education sector makes to foreign earnings. Other relevant Departments are represented at senior official level, while the chief executives of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Science Foundation Ireland and Tourism Ireland are also members.

The private sector also plays an important role on the ETC and is represented by IBEC and the Irish Exporters Association. A number of business people with a track record in key sectors appropriate to the Council’s work also participate. The current private sector membership includes representatives from the food, tourism, construction and IT sectors, amongst others.

The ETC has met in plenary twice annually since it was established in late 2011 and I will be chairing the 9th meeting in the autumn of 2015. ETC-related work, both at home and abroad, continues between these high-level plenary sessions.

I invite members to participate in the ETC in consultation with the relevant Departments and State agencies. Following the publication of the International Financial Services Strategy in March this year, it is envisaged that a representative from the International Financial Services industry will also be invited to join the ETC in order to reflect the priority attached to the sector and to support the Government's broader trade and investment activities.