Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions being taken to strengthen the Irish-owned exporting sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30033/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s White Paper on Enterprise to 2030 sets out an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, seeking to secure a sustainable, innovative and high-productivity economy, with rewarding jobs and livelihoods in the period ahead.

Ireland’s position as a small economy means that it is essential for our economic resilience that Irish enterprises realise opportunities in global markets. As an agency of my Department, Enterprise Ireland (EI) is responsible for helping prospective and emerging exporters to build company scale and expand their reach.

In line with the White Paper, EI's Strategy 2022-2024 sets out a number of initiatives to create resilient, internationally focused Irish enterprises, and ambitious targets are set for export growth and market diversification of the EI client base. This includes growing the total value of exports reported by EI client companies on an annual basis and driving diversification with 70% of their exports going to destinations outside of the UK market. Companies supported by EI exported goods and services worth €34.6 billion in 2023, the highest level on record. The impact of this activity by EI client companies can be seen in the €39.3 billion spent in the Irish economy in 2023 which includes approximately €11.7 billion spent on payroll. The very positive results are a testament to the resilience and vision in the Irish enterprise sector and the Government’s policy to assist Irish business in that vision.

The White Paper sets a target of 2,000 new exporters by 2030. To help achieve this, work is underway to build a new exporter accelerator in Enterprise Ireland which will focus on building ambition, capability and market entry for potential first-time exporters. The new accelerator will work closely with the Local Enterprise Offices and will enable further progress with regard to the expansion of the LEO framework to extend direct financial assistance to small companies employing more than 10 and less than 50 employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded sectors with export potential.

Enterprise Ireland helps Irish businesses to become global leaders in their field, by supporting them to explore international exporting opportunities to drive global growth. My Department, through EI, has a range of supports to help companies develop market entry plans, fund market research and upskill leadership teams. Businesses working with EI benefit from international trade missions, trade event programmes, and buyer visits, which are instrumental when growing and scaling internationally.

Based in 39 offices across 30 countries, Enterprise Ireland Market Advisors have the local knowledge and connections to guide companies in growing their export sales. Market Advisors are a vital source of market intelligence that can be accessed when planning a go-to-market strategy. They offer practical on-the-ground help and can provide connections to potential customers, partners, and important local stakeholders.

EI’s Market Research Centre (MRC) supports businesses with extensive market data, in-depth market analysis and tailored insights, so they can take a strategic approach to decisions and gain a competitive edge. The MRC has the largest repository of specialist, online business databases in Ireland, providing access to the most authoritative market research resources.

EI also offer a range of market access grants to assist companies that are starting out on their export journey. These include the Digital Marketing Capability grant, the Evolve strategic planning grant, the Market Discovery Fund, and the Strategic Marketing Review.

Looking ahead, I am very conscious of the current and emerging uncertainties for business in global markets. My Department is working with EI to help their clients anticipate and transform their business models to address areas such as sustainability, digitalisation, financing and skills.