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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 3

Written Answers. - IBEC Trade Barriers Survey.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

21 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the number of complaints his Department has received from IBEC regarding problems being experienced by Irish exporters in EU markets; the nature of such complaints; and whether the complaints have been pursued with the member states concerned. [18803/96]

Michael McDowell

Question:

38 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has undertaken a review of the functioning and effectiveness of the internal market; if he has identified any weaknesses or criticisms which should be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18854/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 38 together.

The IBEC survey on barriers to trade, which was carried out last year at my request to determine if the Single Market was working for Irish companies, found that one third of respondent exporters had experienced difficulties in gaining market access to other EU markets. IBEC was subsequently requested to further analyse the survey results to ascertain the nature of the problems concerned so as to enable my Department to pursue these problems with the EU Commission and other member states concerned.

In late November 1995 IBEC confirmed that almost all cases of difficulties reported by Irish exporters had been successfully resolved. Efforts were still being made to settle the small number of unresolved cases and, if these proved unsuccessful, the assistance of my Department would be sought. Because of the progress made through other channels, the need for representations to the EU Commission and other member states regarding difficulties experienced by Irish exporters in EU markets has not arisen to date.
The European Commission, in accordance with a Resolution of the Internal Market Council of December 1992, is required to present to Council before the end of 1996 an analysis of the effectiveness of the measures taken to create the single market. I have been informed by the Commission that it will formally present its analysis to the Internal Market Council on 26 November which I will chair.
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