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

381. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Irish embassies abroad, diplomatic missions or other representatives continue to promote Irish trade throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4759/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world. 

This network of embassies and consulates is central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development of trade, investment and tourism. Team Ireland works to build education, science, technology and innovation partnerships; and promote our culture and creative industries.

In addition to sustaining strong bilateral relationships and working to maintain and protect the rules based international order - both critical for the realisation of Ireland's trade and investment objectives - embassies and consulates support the State Agencies in their delivery of strategic objectives in overseas markets. 

Officers within the mission network engage in economic and public diplomacy to advance Ireland’s prosperity, as part of overall duties to promote Ireland's interests and support our citizens. They also support Ministerial visits and trade missions, in partnership with Team Ireland colleagues. Missions also work more specifically on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and double taxation agreements. The role of the network in promoting and protecting Irish trade interests is particularly important in markets with limited or no State Agency presence.

The Department is guided in this work by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has lead responsibility for this strategy, which sets out seven priority actions. The Department of Foreign Affairs is strongly supporting its implementation, at home and abroad, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other departments. 

The Government's Global Ireland strategy is also key; a strategy which aims to double the impact and scope of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. Working together as Team Ireland overseas is at the heart of the strategy. Ongoing implementation is enhancing Ireland’s international visibility, facilitating market diversification and intensification, and deepening bilateral relations in support of our economic and political objectives. To date, 16 new missions have opened under the Global Ireland strategy, with locations chosen on the basis, inter alia, of their potential to diversify our markets and increase trade and investment with Ireland.