Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading partnerships have been developed in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which existing trading partnerships have improved and the consequent benefit to this economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/14]
View answerWhile the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets.
Following the launch of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, 2010 - 2015’ in September 2010, and based on State agency priorities, a list of 27 priority markets were identified. Local Market Teams were established in each of these, headed by the Ambassador and consisting of representatives of the Embassy and relevant state agencies. These market teams submit annual market plans as well as six-monthly reports of activity, which are reviewed by the Export Trade Council, which I chair.
The exporting sector is vital to the health of the Irish economy. Enterprise Ireland reported in its 2013 end of year statement that its client companies now, directly and indirectly, account for more than 300,000 jobs in the Irish economy (16% of the total workforce). The Ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions bringing client companies to key markets are strongly supported by my Department and the Embassy network.
Ireland’s exports were €182 billion in 2012, split almost evenly between goods and services, an increase of 5.5 percent on 2011. The growth in goods exports slowed to 0.7 percent on the previous year, but growth in services exports was strong at almost 11 percent. The tables annexed to this reply (using figures collated by Forfás) show the main destinations of Irish goods and services exports over the last five years. While full year figures for 2013 are not yet available, these are expected to show a small decline in exports largely caused by the effects of the pharmaceutical “patent cliff” and weakness in established markets.
Annex:
Ireland’s Goods Exports by Destination
|
- |
Destination |
2012 (€ billion) |
Share of exports 2012 (%) |
Annual Growth Rate, 2008-2012 (%) |
|
1 |
United States |
18.2 |
19.8 |
2.2 |
|
2 |
United Kingdom |
15.2 |
16.5 |
-1.1 |
|
3 |
Belgium |
13.6 |
14.8 |
2.7 |
|
4 |
Germany |
7.5 |
8.2 |
5.3 |
|
5 |
Switzerland |
5.1 |
5.5 |
18.6 |
|
6 |
France |
4.4 |
4.8 |
-3.4 |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
3.3 |
3.6 |
2.2 |
|
8 |
Spain |
2.8 |
3 |
-6.2 |
|
9 |
Italy |
2.7 |
2.9 |
-2.9 |
|
10 |
Japan |
2.1 |
2.3 |
5.3 |
|
11 |
China |
1.6 |
1.7 |
-0.7 |
|
12 |
Sweden |
0.8 |
0.9 |
-2.5 |
|
13 |
Canada |
0.8 |
0.9 |
18.6 |
|
14 |
Australia |
0.7 |
0.8 |
-0.8 |
|
15 |
Mexico |
0.7 |
0.7 |
5.9 |
|
16 |
Poland |
0.7 |
0.7 |
-2.4 |
|
17 |
Saudi Arabia |
0.6 |
0.7 |
13.4 |
|
18 |
Russia |
0.6 |
0.7 |
15 |
|
19 |
Hong Kong |
0.6 |
0.6 |
-4.5 |
|
20 |
Israel |
0.6 |
0.6 |
29.1 |
|
Other |
9.5 |
10.4 |
-1.3 |
Ireland’s Services Exports by Destination
|
- |
Destination |
2012 (€ billion) |
Share of exports 2012 (%) |
Annual Growth Rate, 2008-2012 (%) |
|
1 |
United States |
17.3 |
19.2 |
3.2 |
|
2 |
Not Geographically Allocated |
10.2 |
11.3 |
23.7 |
|
3 |
Germany |
8 |
8.9 |
4.8 |
|
4 |
United Kingdom |
8 |
8.8 |
14 |
|
5 |
France |
5.6 |
6.2 |
3.7 |
|
6 |
Italy |
5.4 |
6 |
6.5 |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
3.9 |
4.3 |
8.5 |
|
8 |
Japan |
2.7 |
3 |
23.9 |
|
9 |
Spain |
2.7 |
3 |
7.2 |
|
10 |
China |
2.4 |
2.7 |
13.9 |
|
11 |
Switzerland |
2.1 |
2.4 |
7.6 |
|
12 |
Belgium |
1.8 |
2 |
4.8 |
|
13 |
Sweden |
1.8 |
2 |
6.4 |
|
14 |
Australia |
1.7 |
1.8 |
27.4 |
|
15 |
India |
1.4 |
1.6 |
35.2 |
|
16 |
Canada |
1.2 |
1.4 |
22.3 |
|
17 |
Denmark |
1.1 |
1.3 |
11.1 |
|
18 |
Norway |
0.9 |
1 |
10.4 |
|
19 |
Finland |
0.8 |
0.9 |
9.4 |
|
20 |
Bermuda |
0.8 |
0.9 |
-8.9 |
|
Other |
10.5 |
11.6 |
-2.1 |
