Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1417. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the sectors most vulnerable to future free trade agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20166/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The EU’s suite of Free Trade Agreements with third Countries help to open new markets, break down barriers and provide new opportunities for Irish firms.  These existing EU Agreements and new trade deals will continue to be important for Ireland.  With a small domestic market, further expansion in other markets is essential to our continued economic growth.

Ireland will continue to support the EU’s ambitious programme of negotiating new Free Trade Agreements giving Irish firms expanded market access and a predictable trading environment in third countries.

The Government’s new Trade Strategy, Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World which supports an extensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions, as part of a major drive towards market diversification - promoting diversified export markets is a key priority for my Department.  This includes markets that are growing and have scale as well as markets where we are already well established but with potential for further growth.  The programme of trade missions and trade events for 2017 includes a substantive focus on the EU and third country markets.  In 2017 we have 42 Minister led trade missions to existing and emerging markets, including an increased focus on EU markets.  Enterprise Ireland is consistently working with client companies focussing on enhancing their competitiveness, capability and levels of innovation to assist them to diversify into new markets.

The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement has led to a sizeable increase in Irish exports since it came into effect in 2011.  This is the real evidence that Trade Agreements work for Irish exporters and Irish jobs.

Beef is considered as a sensitive agricultural product in EU free trade agreements where only limited concessions are granted in the form of tariff rate quotas.  Any import of beef is subject to full compliance with EU health and safety standards including the ban on hormone treated beef.  This means that only hormone-free meat can be imported into the EU.  During the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations Ireland successfully campaigned for the EU to grant Canada a low beef tariff rate quota of 45,850 tonnes progressively over 5 years thereby safeguarding our important EU market in this area.  Above this agreed quota the EU's high tariffs continue to apply.  I will continue to work at securing the best deal for Ireland in any future trade negotiation, bearing in mind our defensive interests, in sensitive areas such as the beef sector.