Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the collaborative efforts between his Department and Enterprise Ireland in supporting SMEs to overcome trade barriers and expand internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57070/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland’s embassy and consulate network is being utilised to promote SME trade opportunities abroad; if he will provide examples of recent initiatives or successes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57069/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps his Department and the diplomatic network are taking to support Irish small and medium enterprises seeking to enter new export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57060/25]

Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland’s diplomatic network is being used to promote Ireland as a tourism destination, particularly in key overseas markets; whether additional initiatives are planned to strengthen tourism ties abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57137/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 112, 141 and 159 together.

Deepening Ireland’s global engagement and driving trade and prosperity are core priorities for this Government and for my Department. Trade promotion in particular remains a key priority and there will be more than forty Ministerial-led trade missions to different parts of the world this year. Between now and the end of the year there will be trade missions supporting Irish business to the US, South Africa, Canada and Germany amongst others.

These of course involve close collaboration right across Government Departments and Agencies. My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, given the lead role of that Department and the agencies under its remit on tourism and trade promotion, including supports provided to SMEs.

Tourism Ireland is responsible, for marketing the island of Ireland as a tourism destination working directly with partners in the tourism industry. Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies expanding internationally and is the primary conduit for supports to SMEs such as the LeanPlus grant, GradStart, and the Dynamic Leadership – Roadmap to Growth programme.

My Department also plays a key role in coordinating Ireland’s overall international promotional work. This is primarily led through the Government Trade Forum, which I established earlier this year and which has already met on eight occasions. In addition to business representatives, the Forum also has the CEOs of the relevant State Agencies involved in trade promotion as part of its membership.

This work is also driven through the Headquarters Market Team which is co-chaired by officials in my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Both bodies includes senior representatives from Tourism Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Both the Government Trade Forum and the HQ Market Team oversee implementation of the Government’s new Action Plan on Market Diversification.

Under the Trade and Investment Strategy, our Ambassadors lead Local and Regional Market Teams, which includes all of the relevant State agencies including Tourism Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. These teams provide important strategic direction and effective coordination of Team Ireland’s activities overseas, with a view to maximising the value and impact of Ireland’s in-market promotional activities including on tourism promotion and supporting Irish businesses access to new markets.

Specific promotion activities supported by the diplomatic network include overseas trade and tourism missions organised by Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland. More broadly, the diplomatic network also works to raise awareness of, and interest in, Ireland through annual global campaigns, particularly around St. Brigid’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Bloomsday.

My Department also leads coordination on major economic and public diplomacy initiatives, which serve to raise awareness of Ireland as a location to invest, study, live and do business. Examples of this include Ireland House at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festival, which takes place in Austin, Texas, in March every year, and the recently completed Expo in Osaka, Japan.

My Department will continue to support mission-led initiatives in 2026, promoting Ireland as a tourism destination and a place to do business, as well as promoting Irish businesses, in close partnership with state agencies, and in line with our strategic priorities.