Seamus Brennan
Question:9 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the engineering area. [14050/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export Promotion.
Micheál Martin
Question:11 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the training and education area. [14053/95]
Seamus Brennan
Question:13 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the electronic area. [14051/95]
Ray Burke
Question:24 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the craft area. [14054/95]
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:26 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the textile area. [14049/95]
Micheál Martin
Question:45 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to promote exports in the financial services area. [14052/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:115 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the textile area. [14110/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:116 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the engineering area. [14111/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:117 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the electronic area. [14112/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:118 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the financial services area. [14113/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:119 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the training and education area. [14114/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:120 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the craft area. [14115/95]
David Andrews
Question:135 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the textile area. [14140/95]
David Andrews
Question:136 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the engineering area. [14141/95]
David Andrews
Question:137 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the electronic area. [14142/95]
David Andrews
Question:138 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the financial services area. [14143/95]
David Andrews
Question:139 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the training and education area. [14144/95]
David Andrews
Question:140 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote exports in the craft area. [14145/95]
I propose to take Question Nos. 9, 11, 13, 24, 26, 45, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140 together.
Under section 6 (1) of the Trade and Marketing Promotion Act, 1991, the board of An Bord Tráchtála is charged with promoting, assisting and developing, "in any manner which the Board considers necessary or desirable" the marketing of Irish goods and services. The promotion of exports from particular sectors, therefore, is a day-to-day matter for ABT and neither I, nor my Department, has any direct function in such matters. Accordingly, inquiries regarding the board's export promotion plans for particular sectors should be addressed directly to the board.
Is the Minister satisfied that the board is paying sufficient attention to the numerous areas mentioned, each of which, in its own way, has enormous potential for development and, more importantly, for delivering jobs on the ground?
In international terms. An Bord Tráchtála is a relatively small body in a small country and in that respect one could never have enough resources. The board's staff at home and abroad are committed to their work and while, from time to time, some of the areas mentioned might not be directly in focus they are all covered. When manufacturers or tradespersons raise particular queries, the board provides them with every possible assistance. It is possible for the Minister to lay down general policy directives that would have to be laid before the Oireachtas, but that power is not normally exercised. The board is aware of its responsibilities in the areas of engineering, training and education, electronics, textiles and financial services and it deals with queries as they arise.
I agree with the Minister's assessment of the difficulties that beset An Bord Tráchtála because of its small budget and number of employees. Will he consider, therefore, making a case to his colleague, the Minister for Finance, for resources to develop An Bord Tráchtála into a much stronger force that would allow it to pursue the areas of export referred to in the questions? I am sure the Minister is well aware of the difficulties involved in these areas.
My main concern in regard to An Bord Tráchtála is that no effort or taxpayers' money is wasted. With that in mind. a voluntary early retirement scheme has been approved by the Government for a small number of the board's employees which has also been approved by the board. Where we have embassies and consular offices, we are anxious to get the best possible results from personnel and moneys invested. One could never have enough personnel or resources to market our trading options, but the board's personnel are doing their best with the resources at their disposal and as far as possible, in terms of Estimates and resources, we will ensure they will not be found wanting.