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

171. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which her Department continues to foster interaction with authorities throughout the globe with a view to encouraging enhanced trade in preparation for Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28343/18]

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

The Government and my Department is engaging with international partners through a range of strategies, initiatives and articulation of Irish trade interests at international fora. This is particularly important in the context of Brexit and the need to support companies to diversify their product and market bases. 

The Government’s Trade Strategy, ‘Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World’ supports an extensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions, as part of a major drive towards market diversification.  Enterprise Ireland delivered 57 internationally focused trade events in 2017 including ministerial-led trade missions to Canada, Singapore, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and a major trade programme as part of the State visit to Australia and New Zealand.

In relation to 2018, the programme of ministerial-led trade missions and events has been finalised and published by Enterprise Ireland, with 70 Ministerial-led trade visits planned to 33 different markets, including to date missions to the USA, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Poland and Czech Republic. Missions to EU markets will be a priority focus for the 2018 programme, together with missions to key markets where the EU has or is negotiating free trade agreements.  As part of the St. Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” Programmes, Ministerial visits around the world were organised to ensure that we use this exposure to maximise the promotion of Ireland's trade, tourism and investment interests.

Furthermore, in June 2018, the Government formally launched the “Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025” initiative, which is the most ambitious renewal and expansion of Ireland’s international presence ever undertaken, including the objective of opening at least 26 new diplomatic missions and expansion of our agencies including the overseas networks of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Board Bia. Global Ireland will support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism, as Brexit becomes a reality. It will ensure that Ireland is better positioned to build the alliances necessary to advance its interests and defend its positions in a post-Brexit EU, while also helping to secure our deep and positive relationship with the UK and its constituent parts into the future.

Specifically, Global Ireland 2025 aims to strengthen our presence in the United States, including a new flagship ‘Ireland House’ – a hub for diplomacy, trade, business and cultural promotion in Los Angeles, and expanding our presence elsewhere in the Americas. It will also expand our presence in the Asia-Pacific region, including a new flagship Ireland House in Tokyo. It also strengthens our presence in North and West Africa, and in the Middle East and Gulf region as well as augmenting diplomatic and agency presence across our main European markets.

As well as the global efforts supported by our agencies and embassies, key to our success has been our commitment to trade liberalisation in order to open new markets for our indigenous sectors.  The EU has successfully concluded a number of important trade agreements with trading partners and is in the process of negotiating or upgrading its agreements with many more.  These existing EU Agreements and new trade deals will continue to be very important for Ireland.  With a small domestic market, further expansion in other markets is essential to our continued economic growth.  In this regard Ireland will continue to support the EU’s ambitious programme of negotiating new Free Trade Agreements, opening new markets for Irish companies and increasing export and investment opportunities.

The EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force provisionally from the 21st September 2017.  Irish companies may now take advantage of the all-important provisions of CETA including the elimination of tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, the easing of regulatory barriers and more transparent rules for market access.  CETA presents new opportunities for Irish business and professionals to work and provide services in Canada.

On the 21st April 2018, the EU and Mexico reached an agreement in principle on a new trade agreement that will be part of the broader Global Agreement.  The Agreement will provide a platform to increase Irish exports to Mexico, the current total value is just over €2 billion per year with total imports of nearly half a billion euros per year.  It will further remove industrial tariffs and important agricultural tariffs.  This will be significant for Ireland’s important Agri-food sector especially for dairy, pork and poultry products.  Ireland is a significant exporter to Mexico of powdered milk and milk derivatives but there are currently significant barriers both to increasing powdered milk exports and to commencing exports of fresh dairy produce.  There are many exciting opportunities in Mexico for Irish businesses including manufacturing, automotive, engineering, telecommunications, ICT, aerospace, software and service and manufacturing technology.  The Agreement will also open up public procurement markets to Irish businesses and remove technical barriers to trade which will reduce the costs of entry to the Mexican market.

The EU is continuing its negotiations with Mercosur and recently announced the successful conclusion of negotiations of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.  The agri-food sector, in particular will see benefits from access to Japan’s highly valuable export market, with improved access for beef, pork, cheese and processed agricultural products.  In addition, the EU’s trade deal with Singapore is hoped to come into force by the end of the year, creating further opportunities across a diverse range of sectors for Irish-based enterprises. In May 2018, the Trade Council of Ministers adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations on free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, as well as adoption of the respective negotiating directives for the Commission.

Ireland will continue to support the EU’s ambitious programme of negotiating new FTA’s giving Irish firms expanded market access and a predictable trading environment in third countries. Ireland continues to actively articulate its trade interests at EU level at the Trade Council and through collaboration with like-minded Member States, in addition to active participation and representation at the World Trade Organisation. My Department has recently commissioned a study to examine the economic opportunities and impacts for Ireland arising from FTAs, both currently in place and in negotiation. The objective is to deepen our understanding of how Ireland can best take advantage of these opportunities, and ensure that our businesses are prepared to access new markets.

Finally, I and my colleague Ministers of State in the Department as well as Ministers across Government, avail ourselves of numerous opportunities to meet international Government colleagues, industry groups and individual companies during each year to promote our trade growth, diversification and FDI strategies.