John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role Ireland’s diplomatic network is playing in promoting foreign direct investment into rural counties; the specific actions being taken to highlight investment opportunities in areas such as Cork north-west, including in agri-tech, clean energy and regional enterprise hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65257/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Enhancing Ireland's attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment is a key focus for the Government.

This work is led primarily by my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and by IDA Ireland, the principal agency for attracting FDI to Ireland.

Regional development is one of four key strategic objectives of the IDA 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". The strategy targets an additional 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin - 55% of all planned investments.

My Department supports efforts to attract and retain FDI in Ireland through a range of measures.

The Government Trade Forum, which met on nine occasions this year, has consistently focused on key sectors in the economy where there is a strong FDI presence. The Forum has heard directly from senior representatives from major FDI businesses in Ireland, including from the medtech, pharma, semi-conductors and international financial services sectors.

My Department plays a central role in coordinating Ireland’s overall international trade and investment promotional work through the Headquarters Market Team, which is co-chaired by a senior official in my Department. The HQ Market Team also has oversight of the implementation of the Action Plan on Market Diversification, published in August.

My Department also supports the agencies, including IDA Ireland, overseas in a broad range of activities to promote trade and investment . Under the Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026, our Ambassadors lead Local and Regional Market Teams, which includes all of the relevant State agencies. These teams provide important strategic direction and effective coordination of Team Ireland’s economic and promotional activities in key overseas markets.

Specific promotion activities supported by the diplomatic network include overseas trade missions that are organised by the IDA and other agencies. 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 on major international showcases where we platform Ireland as a location for investment. Events this include, Ireland's national pavilion at Expo in Osaka and Ireland House at SXSW in Austin Texas,

These activities are accompanied by high impact digital campaigns that leverage the popular Ireland.ie website, which has received over 53 million page views since it was launched in 2023. Ireland.ie contains a dedicated section on investing in Ireland.