Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings Enterprise Ireland and the IDA have had with each of the EU27 in 2016 and to date in 2017; the value of imports and exports by each State in this regard, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52480/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland is working with client companies through a network of market and sector advisers from 10 offices located throughout the country and 33 international office across the globe. 12 of these offices are located within the EU27 and another 8 EU27 counties are serviced by an Enterprise Ireland office from a nearby location. Enterprise Ireland’s Market Advisers across these locations regularly interact with relevant enterprise development stakeholders.

To support client companies with global ambition to grow and diversify their global footprint, Enterprise Ireland runs a programme of Trade Missions and Events. In the period 2016 to 2017 (year to date), Enterprise Ireland ran 25 Ministerial Trade Missions and Events to EU27 locations. These events give Enterprise Ireland clients, the opportunity to connect with existing and new customers, access key decision makers, increase sales in international markets and exchange ideas.

Enterprise Ireland regularly engages with EU27 enterprise development groups to exchange knowledge on enterprise policy. This ensures that Enterprise Ireland continues to provide a best in class offering to its clients and informs the development of the agency’s strategy.  

In addition, Enterprise Ireland is the national coordinator for Horizon 2020, the  EU’s programme for research and innovation and is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe. This see Enterprise Ireland engage on an ongoing basis with EU27 members part of Horizon 2020.

Insofar as IDA Ireland is concerned, they have offices across the globe, and in Europe these offices are located in London, Paris and Frankfurt. These offices cover a range of territories and sectors. Europe is IDA Ireland’s second largest market accounting for 20% of investments won by the Agency since 2010. While the market is challenging, significant opportunities remain, particularly in the context of Brexit.

Building geographical diversity into IDA Ireland's portfolio is a key goal of the IDA’s current five-year strategy ‘Winning FDI’ and through this strategy the Agency intends to grow its market share in Europe, consolidate on its improving performance in key growth markets and achieve higher business returns by targeting fast growing companies.

In the time available to my Department details on IDA EU27 engagements were not immediately available but will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they are available.

As regards the level of trade between Ireland and EU27, a table showing the statistics for trade between Ireland and the EU27 MS is attached with the data drawn from the Central Statistics Office.

Ireland's Goods and Services Exports 2016