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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Nov 1987

Vol. 375 No. 5

Written Answers. - Trade Figures.

16.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement showing the balance of trade figures as between Ireland and the other countries of the EC for each of the last three years for which figures are available, adjusted for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the trend indicated and the implications thereof.

The Central Statistics Office have advised me that there is no conversion factor according to which the figures requested by the Deputy can be adjusted for inflation. There are indices which relate to the whole of merchandise imports and exports but these are not appropriate for adjusting statistics for individual countries or geographical areas for inflation.

I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement showing actual figures for trade between Ireland and the other member countries of the EC for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986 and for the period January/September, 1987.

These figures are encouraging and show that Irish exports to the rest of the EC are increasing and the balance of trade with our European partners is steadily improving in our favour. In the period 1984 to 1986 the value of our exports to the EC increased by 8.47 per cent or IR£527 million. In the same period our imports decreased by 1.7 per cent or IR£98 million.

Ireland's dependence on exports means that Irish companies must concentrate on the development of exports both to EC and non-EC markets. With exports to the EC representing 72 per cent of total Irish exports in 1986, the importance of this market is clear.

Following is the statement:

Country

1984 (IR£m)

Ireland's Balance (E-I)

Imports

Exports

UK

3,822

3,065

–757

Germany

678

903

+225

France

429

746

+317

Netherlands

335

622

+287

Belgium and Luxembourg

191

383

+192

Italy

216

279

+63

Denmark

82

68

–14

Spain

101

94

–7

Portugal

35

22

–13

Greece

13

38

+25

Total

5,902

6,220

Country

1985 (IR£m)

Ireland's Balance (E-I)

Imports

Exports

UK

4,026

3,211

–815

Germany

730

986

+256

France

456

821

+365

Netherlands

356

664

+308

Belgium and Luxembourg

206

396

+190

Italy

214

364

+150

Denmark

97

89

–8

Spain

101

111

+10

Portugal

46

26

–20

Greece

15

47

+32

Total

6,247

6,715

Country

1986 (IR£m)

Ireland's Balance (E-I)

Imports

Exports

UK

3,587

3,201

–386

Germany

771

1,022

+251

France

439

887

+448

Netherlands

332

556

+224

Belgium and Luxembourg

188

450

+262

Italy

228

334

+106

Denmark

88

92

+4

Spain

120

137

+17

Portugal

40

27

–13

Greece

11

41

+30

Total

5,804

6,747

Cumulative Totals 1984-86 (IR£m)

17,953

19,682

+1,729

Country

1987 (IR£m)

Ireland's Balance (E-I)

Imports

Exports

UK

2,759

2,626

–133

Germany

571

886

+315

France

292

744

+452

Netherlands

247

558

+311

Belgium and Luxembourg

145

352

+207

Italy

164

284

+120

Denmark

67

70

+3

Spain

83

119

+36

Portugal

29

25

–4

Greece

11

35

+24

Total

4,368

5,699

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