Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which his Department continues to pursue trade and market opportunities throughout the European Union and beyond with a view to compensating for losses arising from geopolitical activities or development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40904/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s openness to trade, investment, people and ideas is a key national strength that has helped transform our economy and society into what it is today. In line with my department’s Trade and Investment Strategy – Value for Ireland, Values for the World, the Strategy seeks to proactively pursue trade, investment and marketing opportunities across the European Union and globally to strengthen Ireland’s trading and investment relationships.

Value for Ireland, Values for the World seeks to best-position Ireland’s trading and investments relationships in an uncertain world and is set against the backdrop of the major economic disruption from the war in Ukraine, Brexit, growing protectionism, global tax developments and geopolitical and trade tensions. Addressing these tensions requires greater effort and collaboration across the whole of government, bringing synergy, creativity and urgency to the existing suite of strategies across trade and investment.

Key initiatives include Trade Missions and Events, my department working with Enterprise agencies promotes Irish companies through international trade events globally, enhancing their visibility to potential buyers and partners in international markets. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to diversify export markets and reduce dependency on any single region, thereby cushioning Irish businesses against geopolitical uncertainties.

My Department has been working closely and collaboratively with colleagues from across government and state agencies, taking great care to ensure that this trade and investment strategy addresses not only trade and investment issues but also climate and sustainability issues by setting out our principled and holistic approach to trade policy.