Written answers
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Departmental Policies
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to minimise the damage of potential US tariffs. [16672/25]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to helping Irish companies navigate the evolving trade landscape and mitigate tariff effects, working with Enterprise Ireland to provide resources, guidance, and strategic supports. Enterprise Ireland has established a Trade & Tariff Response Team to brief Irish exporters on the latest developments and impacts and to date has engaged on a one-to-one basis with over 450 companies who export to the USA.
Similarly, my Department is engaging with IDA Ireland to shape the Government's strategic response to US tariffs. IDA’s priority is to maintain close partnerships with existing client companies while monitoring developments, assessing impacts, and providing insights to inform Ireland’s overall response. This engagement has informed IDA’s 2025-29 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation," which focuses on productivity-enhancing investments in RD&I, talent development, sustainability, and digitalisation.
These ambitions align well with the Programme for Government's commitment to develop a comprehensive Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity, which I have tasked my Department with delivering in an accelerated timeframe. This plan includes immediate, targeted measures, focusing on enhancing international trade promotion supports, addressing business costs, and improving energy security and infrastructure. Key actions include implementing advisory supports for exporters, accelerating progress on trade agreements like CETA, developing a strategic approach to market diversification, streamlining security clearance processes, and advancing a National Semiconductor Strategy.
I am conscious that this is an evolving situation which will be closely monitored. My Department will continue to work with the enterprise agencies to support Irish based enterprises to thrive in this challenging economic environment.
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