Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of joint trade missions between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland undertaken to date; the number planned for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19663/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As stated in the Programme for a Partnership Government the intention is to increase the number of joint North-South trade missions to create new job opportunities for people on both sides of the border.

I am aware of two such joint trade missions involving a Northern Ireland Minister having taken place. The first of these was in February 2014 to the Singapore Air Show and Exhibition, and included then Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster. In addition, in January 2015, Minister Foster, together with a UK Minister and then Minister of State Nash attended the Arab Health Conference in Dubai.

I know that the Enterprise Bodies, North and South, work well together and I look forward to seeing an increase in the numbers of such joint trade missions in the coming years.