Vol. 493 No. 3
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether her Department has trade missions or equivalent located in any EU member states; the number located in non-EU states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16320/98]
By trade missions or equivalent I assume that the Deputy is referring to the overseas offices of the industrial development agencies under the remit of my Department. The decision as to where to locate an overseas office is a day to day matter and is one in which I do not have a direct function. An Bord Tráchtála has informed me that its overseas offices are situated in the following locations: EU member countries; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK and non-EU countries: Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, People's Republic of China, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Shanghai, Singapore, USA. IDA Ireland has informed me that it has overseas offices in the following locations: EU member countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, UK and non-EU countries: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, USA. Shannon Development has overseas offices in the USA to attract inward investment into the Shannon Free Zone.
Forbairt is the Department's agency with responsibility for the development of indigenous industry in Ireland. As such, Forbairt does not maintain an extensive overseas presence. However, it maintains a limited overseas involvement both in the context of its technology transfer-partnership programme and in the context of its role in attracting overseas investment in the natural resources sectors. Forbairt's overseas offices are located in Germany, Japan and USA.
The promotion of trade and investment in conjunction with the trade and industry development agencies is a major obligation of Ireland's overseas diplomatic mission.
