Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he is taking to advance Ireland's FDI and trade value proposition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30037/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Government's White Paper on Enterprise, which was published in December 2022, emphasises the importance of FDI to the Irish economy and highlights the importance of the green and digital agendas as drivers of future growth and competitiveness. The latest implementation report, for the second half of 2023 and which I published in May 2024, includes updates on the initiatives led by IDA Ireland, amongst others, that have been completed.

Key White Paper actions on key infrastructure and capacity challenges are being addressed across Government through NDP-2040 investments. Earlier this year my Department published Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy which identifies actions to support the development of offshore wind in support of energy security and cost competitiveness, a key competitiveness challenge at this time.

The continued promotion of FDI in Ireland is further supported by the implementation of our Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World. Priorities set out in that strategy are focused on the promotion of Ireland’s investment ecosystem and reaping the benefits of the EU Single Market.

My Department, along with Enterprise Ireland, also continues to focus on the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets with EI supporting both start-up and established companies to increase sales and exports in global markets, which in turn results in increased employment. EI client company exports reached a record €34.57bn in 2023.