Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
48. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the 2012 targets set for his Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if he will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps he is taking within his Department to create new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1283/13]
View answerMy Department, in cooperation with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the state agencies, is responsible for four key actions in the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs. The relevant actions and progress on their implementation are as follows:
3.12: Roll out a schedule of sector specific Trade Missions and market evaluation Missions that reflect the priority markets identified in the Trade Strategy as well as firms’ interest and stage of development, aiming for at least 15 Ministerial–led Missions (DJEI / DFAT / Enterprise Ireland / DTTS / Tourism Ireland).
Minister Bruton and I approved an ambitious programme of 18 Ministerial led Trade Missions and other overseas events in 2012 focusing on key priority markets identified under the Government Trade Strategy. These Missions were led by Government Ministers and Ministers of State and a total of 15 countries were visited; China, U.S., Finland, Sweden, Turkey, U.K., Russia, France, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Africa, U.A.E. and India. I visited the UK and my colleague, the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D. led Trade Missions to Turkey, Russia, Brazil, Italy and South Africa. Feedback from the Enterprise Ireland client companies who participated in all of the Trade Missions and targeted events has been extremely positive and each Mission delivered significant progress for indigenous Irish companies in the export sector. I am currently working with Minister Burton to finalise the programme of Ministerial-led Trade Missions and events for 2013.
3.16: Develop and implement local market plans as provided for in the Strategy for Trade, Tourism and Investment for key high–growth regions and through the Export Trade Council work to optimise the resources of embassies and agencies to deliver ambitious targets (D/FAT / DJEI / DAFM / Enterprise Agencies / DTTS / Tourism Ireland )
Under the Government Trade Strategy, 27 priority markets have been identified for the integrated promotion of trade, tourism and investment. In each of these markets, Ireland’s Ambassador chairs the Local Market Team, which consists of Embassy staff and representatives of the relevant state agencies present in the market. These market teams submit detailed annual Local Market Plans outlining how they will grow trade, investment and tourism between Ireland and the market in question to the Export Trade Council (ETC), which I chair. The ETC is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Trade Strategy as a whole. I am currently reviewing the Local Market Plans from all 27 priority markets from 2013 and will be presenting them to the ETC this February.
4.4: Work collectively to communicate Ireland’s strength as a location for starting a business, and support the development of a campaign by the Irish Diaspora to encourage entrepreneurial start–ups in Ireland (DJEI / Enterprise Ireland / IDA Ireland / DFAT / Global Irish Economic Forum)
The entrepreneurial start–ups programme is currently being coordinated by The Ireland Funds, one of the largest philanthropic Irish diaspora organisations in the world, who are working closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to communicate Ireland’s strength as a location for starting a business. In a wider context, my Department continues to coordinate reputation-building efforts across Government, including regularly updating key messages on Ireland’s economic recovery and using our Embassy Network overseas to promote positive economic messages.
5.9: Utilise Global Irish Network as official advocates of new and expanded FDI investment in Ireland including introductory meetings, briefings and establishing a restricted website access portal on IDA Ireland website to provide communication and information to relevant Diaspora (D/FAT / IDA Ireland)
My Department made significant progress on increasing the span and scope of the Global Irish Network during 2012; growing it to 350 senior Irish business figures located across 40 countries. In 2013, the Network will continue to provide: high level access for the Government and agencies within key sectors and markets; mentoring and assistance for Irish companies through the Global Irish Contacts Programme; support for sector specific initiatives (such as The Gathering and Connect Ireland) and for Trade Missions. Regional meetings of the Network are expected to be held in 2013 in California and London and a third Global Irish Economic Forum may take place in October.
