Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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739. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which trade continues to develop with various and new markets established through the efforts of his Department, embassies, and consulates worldwide; the most successful locations in this regard in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28947/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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741. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading partners continue to be identified throughout the globe; the extent to which this continues to improve the position for Irish companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28949/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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742. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the network of Irish embassies abroad has developed its capacity in promoting increased trade between Ireland and the various countries with which diplomatic representation is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28950/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 741 and 742 together.

The advancement of Ireland’s trade, tourism, investment and education promotion objectives is a central aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network.

While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets.

Following the launch of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, 2010 - 2015’ in September 2010, and based on State agency priorities, a list of 27 priority markets were identified. Local Market Teams were established in each of these, chaired by the local Ambassador and consisting of representatives of the Embassy and the relevant State agencies present on the ground. These market teams submit annual market plans that are reviewed by the Export Trade Council, which I chair, and which encourages cooperation between all Government Departments and State agencies that work on trade, tourism, investment and education promotion.

In the Review of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, published in February last year, seven additional high potential and exploratory markets were identified as part of a ‘new market approach’, aimed at increasing our engagement with high growth markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The markets in question are as follows; Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand and Chile.

Ireland now has a presence in all but one of the above markets. Guided by the Review, new Embassies have been opened in Bangkok (Thailand), Jakarta (Indonesia), Nairobi (Kenya) and Zagreb (Croatia), alongside the reopening of Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See. Consulates-General have also been opened in Hong Kong (China), Austin (Texas, USA) and in Sao Paulo (Brazil). These new Embassies and Consulates will strengthen Ireland’s capacity to take advantage of emerging opportunities in these important markets, as well as complementing the existing trade promotion work of our Embassy network.

Notable examples of successful Local Market Teams’ efforts to push for greater international market access for Irish products include Ireland being granted access for its beef in both the US and Chinese markets. In the context of enhanced air access, my Department and the Embassy network was to the fore in delivering the recent announcement of Ethiopian Airlines’ new service from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles, via Dublin. This is the first direct flight between Ireland and the African continent and represents a significant opportunity for Ireland.

Both at home and abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to work in cooperation with other Government Departments in promoting Ireland’s trade, tourism, investment and education efforts. In addition to supporting the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2025 Agrifood Strategy, my Department is also closely involved in the implementation of the International Financial Services Strategy, launched in March this year.

The Embassy network plays a crucial role in proactively addressing market access issues, supporting Irish businesses seeking to grow overseas, holding promotional events for, and in association with, State agencies and actively contributing to the organisation and conduct of Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led trade missions and events overseas.

In terms of the level of Irish trade with overseas markets, the Central Statistics Office maintains a website, , on which the most recent trade statistics are made available to the public.