Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

142. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which her Department continues to pursue market opportunities for Irish products globally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53485/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland is one of the world's most open, export-based economies.  For Ireland, with a small domestic market, expansion to other markets is a prerequisite for our economic prosperity.  Export growth in Ireland has been exceptionally strong in recent years, reaching a new record level of €259 billion last year.

The Government is strongly committed to promoting diversified export markets for our indigenous sectors, particularly in light of the potential economic impacts of Brexit.  It is imperative that companies maximise opportunities to not only sustain and grow their exports to the UK but also to continue to diversify their export base.

Enterprise Ireland has an established process for working with companies as they identify opportunities and begin to enter new markets. Enterprise Ireland’s overseas structure, through its network of 33 overseas offices and its extended Pathfinder (Trade Consultant) network, has the capability of providing client companies with the appropriate support in markets where there are identified opportunities matched by client capability and demand. The activities of Enterprise Ireland’s overseas network are supported by the Market Research Centre and Strategic Marketing Unit based in Dublin, along with a range of financial and capability developments supports aimed at helping client companies to compete and win sales in overseas markets.

Ireland’s membership of the EU is absolutely critical in terms of global market access, not only to the 27 markets within the single market, but also to third country markets through EU negotiated Free Trade Agreements.  Irish businesses benefit significantly from Free Trade Agreements with third countries in a range of ways, including the elimination of market access barriers and red tape and the abolition of tariffs.  These existing EU agreements and new trade deals will continue to be very important for Ireland in terms of promoting Irish products around the world.  Ireland works actively and closely with the European Commission and other institutions in the negotiation of these agreements, and my Department is responsible for promoting our national policy positions in this regard.

Earlier this year, the Government published a new trade strategy, ‘Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World’ which commits Ireland to deepening our enterprise resilience by intensifying our connections in existing markets and diversify to new markets; capturing new sectoral opportunities; and build more Irish companies of scale.  In this context, Enterprise Ireland is consistently working with client companies focusing on enhancing their competitiveness, capability and levels of innovation to assist them to diversify into new markets. The Strategy also supports an extensive programme of ministerial-led trade missions, as part of the drive towards market diversification.

In August, the Government announced plans to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025 which will further expand our investment and trade footprint in foreign markets through the provision of increased resources for diplomatic missions and state agency offices overseas.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which her Department has redoubled its efforts to establish new markets inside and outside the European Union for Irish products in order to compensate for the consequences of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53492/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Promoting diversified export markets in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for my Department and its agencies.  It is imperative that Irish companies respond to the challenges Brexit will bring now, and do not wait until the Brexit negotiations are complete.  This will include maximising opportunities to not only sustain and grow their exports to the UK, but also to diversify their export base to other markets. 

Released on the 9th November, “Building Stronger Business – responding to Brexit by competing, innovating and trading” sets out the work under way, and planned, by my Department and its Agencies in response to Brexit, including supports available to companies to help them prepare for Brexit.  It also describes our research programme designed to inform that response.

In terms of increasing Ireland’s Global Footprint, my Department has secured an additional €3 million in funding to enable the Department and its agencies recruit a further 40 to 50 staff worldwide (on top of 50 additional staff secured in Budget 2017).  These additional resources will be focused on helping Irish exports grow their international sales, diversify their markets and secure new investments in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland is working directly with clients most exposed to Brexit and continues to provide the necessary supports and expertise to help them navigate immediate challenges.  It’s 2017-2020 ‘Build Scale, Expand Reach’ Strategy aims to increase the diversification of client exports into new markets, with two-thirds of exports going beyond the UK.  The diversification strategy is focused on geographical markets, and on diversifying  into new market segments.

In May 2017, Enterprise Ireland launched a new Eurozone Strategy to assist Irish exporters increase exports in Eurozone countries by 50%, from €4 billion to €6 billion by 2020.  This will be accompanied by a new ‘Irish Advantage’ communications campaign which will target Eurozone buyers to buy Irish innovation in key Brexit impacted sectors such as med-tech and engineering.

In addition, enhanced programmes of minister-led trade missions and bilateral visits overseas will deepen existing trade and investment relationships and forge new linkages across a range of markets.   

My Department will also continue to work to promote expansion of the EU’s portfolio of Free Trade Agreements to encourage market-deepening and expansion to new markets for Irish based enterprises.