asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the composition of the export credit advisory committee of his Department; the number of times it has met; and the actions, if any, taken as a result of its advice.
Written Answers. - Export Credit Advisory Committee.
110.
The Export Credit Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of my Department, is composed of representatives of the following organisations:
Department of Industry and Commerce;
Córas Tráchtála;
Insurance Corporation of Ireland plc;
Industrial Credit Corporation plc;
Irish Livestock and Meat Board;
Confederation of Irish Industry;
Irish Exporters Association;
Allied Irish Banks;
Bank of Ireland;
Banque Nationale de Paris; and
Irish Intercontinental Bank.
In addition, two Irish exporters are represented on the committee. The committee has met on nine occasions.
A major marketing programme was launched by ICI following on from the work of the committee. This involved the appointment by ICI of a full time marketing executive to encourage wider usage of the export credit insurance and finance schemes and greater co-ordination between ICI and the banks in the promotion and operation of the export credit finance schemes.
As a result of a recommendation made by the committee, the requirement of insuring entire export turnover under comprehensive policies issued by ICI was modified to the extent that in certain circumstances an exporter may be allowed to exclude from his policy with ICI exports to one or more countries. This has led to a greater degree of flexibility in the provision of insurance cover to exporters.