Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

178. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the fifth meeting of the Government’s Trade Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27428/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

235. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the discussions from the most recent Government trade forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27344/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

236. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the work of the Government Trade Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 235 and 236 together.

As a small, highly globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on the international trading environment.

The Government Trade Forum plays an important role facilitating direct engagement between Government Ministers and key stakeholders and experts as we shape the national, multi-faceted response to the trade challenges facing the country and the business sector.

In line with transfer in responsibilities for trade policy to my Department in the Programme for Government, I chair the Forum. I'm very pleased to be joined at it by a number of Ministerial colleagues reflecting the whole of Government approach to the issues concerned.

The Government Trade Forum considers the opportunities to further build on Ireland’s strong trade performance and current and potential challenges. It focuses on the entirety of Ireland’s trading relationships, including opportunities arising from EU trade agreements, from new and emerging markets, and consideration of how best to advance Ireland’s economic interests with our largest bilateral trading partners.

In the short period since its establishment in February, the Forum has become an important strategic vehicle for engagement with key stakeholders on trade issues, including across Government, business organisations, trade unions and other representative groups.

In addition to addressing on-going trade issues, the Forum will also take a longer term-strategic view on trade issues. In that context, a comprehensive work programme for the Forum is being elaborated in close consultation with members and is expected to be agreed shortly. The work programme is likely to include sectoral, regional and thematic items, considering the totality of Ireland’s trading relationships.

Membership of the Forum includes Ministers and senior officials from relevant departments, senior business and sectoral representatives, including from relevant business representative groups, other representative organisations, and senior leadership from the state agencies. Membership is reviewed periodically and augmented as required to ensure comprehensive representation of stakeholders and expertise.

There is also scope to invite other parties to attend on an ad-hoc basis where particular matters of relevance are to be discussed. The Forum engages with key businesses and senior business leaders in relevant and strategic sectors, who are invited to attend meetings of the Forum depending on the topics, sectors and regions involved. To date, sectors of focus have included the pharmaceutical, medtech and aviation sectors with the broad range of further sectors to follow across the series of meetings of the Forum.

My intention is for the Forum to meet regularly. On Monday 19 May, I chaired the fifth meeting of the Forum. The meeting involved updates and an exchange of views with members on relevant developments on, among other topics, EU-US trade developments, developments at the EU-UK level, and market diversification plans.

The meeting presented the opportunity to update on my meetings in Brussels on 15 May with European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic and EU Trade Ministers, as well as my earlier discussions with the Northern Ireland First Minister, Deputy First Minister, and Minister for the Economy. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment updated the Forum on Minister Peter Burke’s trade and investment mission to the US that had just concluded.

I briefed the Forum on latest developments regarding US tariff policy as well as the potential EU countermeasures. I welcomed the close engagement between the EU and US, reiterating that a negotiated solution remains very clearly the desired outcome. I also noted how at the same time Ireland understood the need for the EU to undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are unsuccessful. I reiterated that the measures will not be implemented immediately and highlighted the Commission’s consultation period. I informed the Forum how Government will communicate Irish specific concerns to the Commission and that we want to hear industry concerns. I urged Forum members to participate in the consultation.

Along with other Forum members, I welcomed the outcome of the EU-UK Summit, which took place on the day of the Forum. I noted that this agreement marks the beginning of a new phase of EU-UK cooperation and how it represents a clear signal both EU and UK seek an enhanced relationship across multiple policy areas, delivering for people and business across the EU and UK.

The next Trade Forum is expected to take place in June.

I would also like to inform Deputies that arrangements are in train for the minutes of the Government Trade Forum meetings to be shortly made available online.