Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans to have a trade and investment mission to Australia early in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56723/22]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Each year, Enterprise Ireland offers a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment.

In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led Trade Missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represented the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These Trade Missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and lifesciences.

My Department is currently working closely with Enterprise Ireland with a view to developing a Ministerial-led Trade Mission Programme for 2023. There are no plans to have a trade and investment mission to Australia early in 2023 as discussions are still ongoing and no decisions have yet been made in relation to the final Trade Mission Programme. In the meantime, my Department will continue to work closely with its agencies to assess opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland, including in markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as Australia.