Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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572. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his Department and other envoys abroad have managed to secure extra business and export contacts with obvious reference to the need for Ireland to be competitive in respect of both investment and exports in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13914/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and its mission network are actively engaged in delivering the Government’s economic objectives, and in particular in advancing the Irish people's prosperity and interests abroad.

The pursuit of these economic objectives is framed by The Global Island, Global Ireland 2025and, most recently, the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World. These strategies orientate the key role of the Department of Foreign Affairs in this work, both in Ireland, through strong collaboration with a range of Departments and State Agencies, and abroad, as a central member of Team Ireland . At HQ, the Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in a range of areas, including the implementation of the relevant actions in the Trade & Investment Strategy, which they lead on, the economic aspects of high level inward and outward visits, and others.

Abroad, 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. This role includes the bringing together of Team Ireland Local Market Teams, which are comprised of our embassies and State Agency offices in key markets; and supporting the State Agencies in the delivery of their objectives. This cooperation is physically manifested in the growing number of Ireland Houses where our diplomatic missions and State Agencies are located together. Our missions also support the delivery of Ministerial visits and trade missions, in partnership with Team Ireland colleagues. As part of Global Ireland 2025, a core of objective of the expansion and deepening of the mission network, and therefore expansion and deepening of bilateral relations, is to deliver continued economic prosperity for Ireland as a core objective. This increased engagement is directed by a set of Global Ireland regional and country strategies.

Moreover, the Department and the Embassy network continuously works to sustain strong bilateral relationships and to maintain and uphold the rules-based international order with the UN at its centre - both of which are critical for the continuing realization of Ireland's trade and investment objectives, as well as for our security, prosperity and well-being as a country.