Vol. 497 No. 2
68 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times and dates on which the Trade Advisory Forum met since she took up office; the nature of work carried out by the forum at these meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24665/98]
Since I took office, the Trade Advisory Forum has met on three occasions, viz. 24 March 1998, 30 June 1998 and 29 October 1998.
The Trade Advisory Forum provides a structured basis for consultation and acts in an advisory capacity to me and my Government colleagues. Since the forum first met in March of this year, it has developed an agreed prioritised agenda of issues which constitute its workplan. The work plan relates to key strategic issues relevant to exporter interests and to trade policy in general. A copy of that work plan is set out in the following table.
Issues considered recently have been the impact of European Monetary Union, the experiance and capabilities of the indigenous sector and the question of competitive infrastructure. At its last meeting the forum invited Dr. Stefan Bungart, Director General of the National Institute for Transport and Logistics, to lead a presentation to the members on competitive infrastructure.
Trade Advisory Forum: WORKPLAN: Agenda item prioritised by Members of the Trade Advisory Forum
|
Subject |
Priority 1 – 14 |
|
Impact of EMU |
1 |
|
Experience and Capabilities of Indigenous Sector |
2 |
|
Competitive Infrastructure (transport, access) |
3 |
|
Focus of Supports (as well as comparisons of approach with that of other countries) |
4 |
|
EU Enlargement |
5 |
|
Ireland/Northern Ireland Trade |
6 |
|
Review of Trade Policy Statement |
7 |
|
Dominance and Concentration of Retail Sector |
8 |
|
Statistics for the Services Sector |
9 |
|
Impact of Tourism |
10 |
|
International Labour Organisation |
11 |
|
World Trade Organisation (Ireland's position the next Round) |
12 |
|
Market Differentiation (through training and design) |
13 |
|
Availability of EU Funding post 1999 and its impact on trade |
14 |
