Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what new markets are being explored to negate any impact on trade to the US with the ongoing threat of increased tariffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21694/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The current disruption in the global trade environment poses major challenges for Ireland’s economic model as an open trading nation. Whatever happens with global tariffs, we need to double down on our ability and our readiness to strengthen and diversify our trade links. As the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I very much see international trade promotion and development as one key pillar of our competitiveness and will be putting a focus on plans to spread our wings as a trading nation, working with business and with our agencies, to encourage that mindset of striking out into the global markets. As members of the EU, we already enjoy free or preferential access to over 76 markets right across the globe, and further free trade agreements are on the way. I know from work that my department undertook last year, that we have scope to improve our take-up of these advantages still further. We have a number of tools at our disposal including a strong annual programme of trade missions, and tourism missions, developed by our agencies and we may need to re-think how we target these and use these for maximum impact, guided by ongoing monitoring and research into emerging opportunities.