Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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327. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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328. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4830/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.

I secured additional monies for 2017 to provide for 39 targeted posts in Enterprise Ireland to enable it to support its clients across all markets.

Extra staff will be placed in EI's overseas offices with sectoral knowledge and expertise such as in engineering, food, life sciences and construction. This will drive export growth to other international markets where there are known opportunities and reduce reliance on the UK.

With regard to export diversification, the future relative importance and forecasted growth rates of China, India, Asean, the Gulf, Latin America and Africa combined with the scale of these markets provide a compelling imperative for us to support Irish companies to continue to work to build exports in these markets.

However we will not reduce our efforts in the hard won established export markets of the UK, France, Benelux, Germany, USA, and the Nordics where Irish companies already have substantial exports. We will have a major focus on directing resources and expertise to the Eurozone markets, targeting a 50 % increase in exports by 2020.

The UK will continue to be a priority market due to Ireland's size, geographic proximity and cultural ties. In the UK market, Enterprise Ireland is particularly working with companies who are most exposed in areas such as engineering, food, construction and timber to maintain their market share.

EI will be implementing a UK Market Development plan which focusses on sustaining exports in key sectors such as construction, agritech, aerospace and engineering and also identifying new growth opportunities in financial services, infrastructure/public sector, as well as a renewed focus on Scotland.

Enterprise Ireland's Irish based team will also be enhanced with additional staff to provide various targeted supports and programmes to assist companies before they enter the market. Training and supports in terms of management capability, leadership, marketing/sales skills, innovation and R&D will help companies to build market share and create new market opportunities. Enterprise Ireland will also deliver a suite of supports that help clients reduce supply-chain costs and drive efficiencies and cost reductions as a means of improving operating margins, thereby increasing competitiveness.

In 2017, EI will also roll out the 'Global Ambition Campaign' which is a communications campaign to promote Irish companies and their products and services to international buyers.

A key element of the 2017 drive for expanding our global export footprint include an enhanced programme of trade and investment missions, market study visits and inwards buyer visits from markets with specific sectoral opportunities.

The plans have a specific emphasis on markets including the Eurozone, USA, Canada, Asia and the Middle East. EI's 2017 trade mission programme also outlines a number of trade missions to the UK focussing on key sectors including construction, engineering, consumer products and Agritech.