Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foreign Policy.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

29 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to rationalise the representation of State promotional bodies overseas in order to avoid duplication of scarce resources and to minimise administrative costs; the further plans, if any, he has to bring our foreign representation under the control of a single Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17240/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

As the Deputy will be aware, his question covers a wide range of Ministries and Departments outside of my control. Primary responsibility for the conduct of Ireland's foreign policy is vested in the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister for Tourism and Trade is responsible for trade policy and I am responsible for the promotion of overseas investment in Ireland. There is close co-operation between our Departments on the question of the external promotion of trade and investment. This co-operation extends to a number of other Government Departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and to those State bodies actively engaged in overseas promotion, such as An Bord Tráchtála, IDA Ireland, Forbairt, SFADCo, Bord Fáilte and An Bord Bia.

The relevant Government Departments and the promotional semi-State bodies are represented on the foreign earnings committee, which is chaired by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, and which has as its primary task, to examine, in line with the relevant recommendation of the second report of the task force on Culliton, the question of putting "enhanced effective co-ordination mechanisms in place to achieve the necessary single-minded pursuit of Ireland's economic and commercial interests abroad by all our agencies and programmes including the diplomatic service" and, through the Minister for Tourism and Trade, to make recommendations in this regard. As part of its remit the foreign earnings committee has drawn up a draft medium-term plan designed to improve the operational effectiveness of representation overseas concerned with Ireland's economic and commercial interests, mainly in those markets where the bulk of promotional moneys is spent, encompassing a strategic approach, practical initiatives for implementation and, where appropriate, operational targets; and will monitor and review the operation of the medium-term plan and modify it, where necessary, in the light of changing circumstances.

Finally I would like to assure the Deputy that there is a high degree of co-operation on the ground and our promotional bodies share accommodation and administrative resources in numerous locations where circumstances permit. Furthermore, the chief executives of the IDA, Forbairt and ABT are on the board of Forfás, whose responsibilities include co-ordinating the work of those agencies and providing policy advice.