Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 6

Written Answers. - Trade Statistics.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

15 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the volume of trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in each of the years 1994 and 1995; the proposals if any, he has for further cross-Border trade initiatives in the context of the new situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8357/95]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

The latest trade figures available from the Central Statistics Office are for the period January to October 1994. These figures indicate that the total volume of trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic was £1,032 million — this compares with £933 million for the same period in 1993. The end-of-year figures for 1994 should be available from the CSO late next month.

With regard to the furtherance of existing cross-Border activities, I can assure the Deputy that the high level of co-operation which already exists between State agencies on both sides of the Border has resulted in the development of exciting new initiatives, designed to assist companies throughout the island to take advantage of the new opportunities emerging since the cessation of violence. Examples of this include the publication of a series of 15 market reports covering all the major market and product sectors of interest to companies on both sides of the Border and a number of joint promotions targeting the subcontracting and giftware markets due to take place in Dublin and Belfast in the autumn.