Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she continues to liaise with her counterparts in other EU member status in the context of extending opportunities for Irish exports post Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39316/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she remains satisfied that losses to Irish exporters through Brexit can be offset by new opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39317/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

The direct trading relationship between Ireland and the UK is significant with €1.2 billion traded between our two countries every week. The UK is and will continue to be a very important market across a wide range of sectors. EI continues to help a large number of companies deepen their presence in the UK by identifying new opportunities and providing additional support in that area while at the same time working with them to grow and broaden their export customer base into other new international markets.

In 2015, the UK and US each accounted for some 17% of total Irish exports with Germany and Belgium each accounting for over 7% and France at 4.7%.

However, the reliance of indigenous exports on the UK markets has been diminishing over the last number of years – exports from EI client companies to the UK decreased from 45% in 2005 to 37% in 2015 showing the success of diversification strategies are working.

At my request, Enterprise Ireland has extended its schedule of Minister-led Trade missions. EI will also be organising a series of exploratory Market Study Visits for companies to visit new markets to assess the potential for developing business opportunities.

Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to;

- Immediately strengthen our ability to penetrate the UK market so as to sustain and grow exports.

- Immediately strengthen our ability to penetrate other key markets to reduce dependence on the UK

- Invest in programmes to ensure that clients have the finances, the innovation, the leadership and the scale so as to grow in international markets.

- Strengthen the ability at local and regional level to generate more start-ups and businesses with export potential

Ireland strongly supports the ambitious trade agenda of the EU and supports the active role that the EU plays at the WTO. Our active role in trade will help shape globalisation for the benefit of our economies and our societies.

Ireland will continue to make the most effective use of the framework of trade agreements that the EU already has in place, and to support the opening of new markets through the EU.

Ireland works closely with the European Union to ensure that markets remain open and that new market opportunities are created.

The EU has a framework of 50 bilateral trade, partnership, association and multi-party sectoral trade agreements under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). These agreements directly benefit Ireland.

We are also working with the EU to conclude “new generation” trade and investment partnerships which will cover rules and standards.

These ambitious and comprehensive agreements will help make the trade and investment environment in third countries easier and more predictable. I continue to work with counterparts in other EU Member States to promote and advance an ambitious and broad range trade agenda for the benefit of Irish exporters.