Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 5

Written Answers. - Trade Missions.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

81 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has permanent trade missions in all countries with whom major import and export activity takes place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12200/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

Enterprise Ireland has offices in 14 of Ireland's top 20 trading partners. These 14 locations represent over 95% of total trade to these top 20 trading partners. The other locations are serviced from offices in nearby countries as appropriate, for example, the office in Austria covers Switzerland.

Enterprise Ireland constantly reviews its overseas resources to achieve the optimal balance between clients' needs and the identification and opening up of new market opportunities.

Enterprise Ireland has overseas representation in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Glasgow, London, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, Beijing, Boston, California, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Riyadh, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

82 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that the current fundamental growth indicators provide the proper environment for long-term enterprise and trade prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12201/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Ireland's remarkable economic performance in recent years has been the subject of considerable attention internationally, in particular, our impressive GNP growth, export growth, and employment creation. These achievements are due to a variety of different factors working together, including: investment in education; investment in telecommunications; a targeted approach to the encouragement of foreign direct investment; membership of the EU and preparations for and the operation of EMU.

It is important to keep in mind the long-term needs of the economy and the sustainability of growth for the future when discussing enterprise and trade prospects. Action is being taken under the following headings to ensure that the correct conditions are established for a continuation of a competitive environment:

Investment: Ireland's gross fixed capital formation continues to expand. Gross fixed capital formation as a percentage of GNP has more than kept pace with growth. In fact, it has expanded as a percentage of GNP, from 20.7% in 1990 to 25.7% in 1998. This demonstrates that we are making basic policy choices, both in the private sector and in the public sector, to make sure that consumption does not take place at the expense of future prospects;

Labour: Healthy and flourishing labour markets are essential for continued growth, and the Government has taken a number of steps to expand the labour force and to upgrade skills. The taxation system has been reformed to provide additional incentives to work, thus increasing the supply of labour, and policy measures are already being implemented to encourage increased immigration to meet specific skill requirements;

Technology: the process of globalisation is being driven by technological change. Much of Ireland's current growth is due to its concentration on foreign industries, and increasingly on Irish owned industries specialising in areas such as information and communications technologies, software, biotechnology, and financial engineering. Autonomous expansion of research and development capabilities in this process is being further enhanced through Government action with specific initiatives to encourage research and development, including significant commitments both in the education sphere and through the technology foresight programme. Resources allocated to research and development in the national development plan now exceed £1 billion;

Infrastructure: A specific aspect of capital spending which will prove essential for sustained growth is that of expenditure on infrastructure, especially road, rail and airport facilities, in order to improve public transport and business services generally. Expenditure on transport infrastructure rose from £237 million in 1990 to £360 million in 1996, and the further significant commitment to infrastructural investment in the national development plan augurs well for continued growth.

To summarise, therefore, these indicators show that the Government has given high priority not only to improving current living standards but also to making sure that necessary investment in the public sector takes place to sustain growth in enterprise and trade in the long term.