Written answers
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Trade Relations
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the €2.5 million allocation for international market diversification will be targeted to reduce Ireland’s trade exposure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57063/25]
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional measures in Budget 2026 to foster stronger trade links with our international partners. [57154/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 168 together.
Recent developments in the international trading environment underline the need for a comprehensive national approach to support businesses in Ireland – both large and small – to achieve their market diversification ambitions. This was a consistent message from business groups at the Government Trade Forum, since I established it in February this year.
In April, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and I tasked our Departments to jointly develop a whole of government market diversification action plan, to bring together all of the supports available and to set out a plan to strategically support market diversification.
In August, the Minister and I published the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification. The plan recognises that concerted action from across Government is required if we are to effectively support businesses in their market diversification ambitions. This in line with our Programme for Government commitment to support Irish-based enterprises.
The Action Plan contains over 100 actions to be delivered by Departments and agencies including my Department, anchored around four objectives:
- Supporting Exporting Businesses and Market Access,
- Deepening and Broadening Ireland’s International Engagement,
- Delivering Trade and Tourism Missions for Strategic Impact, and
- Enhancing Domestic Readiness for Economic Engagement and Partnership.
The Action Plan is part of comprehensive set of initiatives by Government to enhance the resilience of our economy given changes in the global trading environment. It complements other new initiatives by the Government including the recently published Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.
As part of Budget 2026, my Department was allocated €2.5 million to reinforce Ireland’s mission network across the USA – a priority market for Irish businesses - and to strengthen Ireland’s presence in key locations around the world as part of our market diversification strategy.
Budget 2026 also provides funding for market diversification to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the State agencies.
The Government Trade Forum will oversee implementation of the Action Plan and will ensure that the actions included in the plan will be delivered.
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