Written Answers Nos. 60-69
60. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's involvement in the negotiations for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, signed in 1961 and became effective in 1964, with its 50th anniversary this coming April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1220/14]
View answerThe origins of the Vienna Convention lie in the work of the International Law Commission on the codification of international law on diplomatic relations and immunities. The Commission considered the topic for a number of years before adopting draft articles with commentary, which were presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 1958. Following on from this, a United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities met in Vienna from 2 March to 14 April 1961. The Conference adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, consisting of fifty-three articles covering most key aspects of diplomatic relations between States to enable diplomatic missions and agents to carry out their official functions effectively.
Ireland was represented at the Conference in Vienna by the Irish Minister to Austria, Mr. T.J. Horan and the Assistant Legal Adviser at the Department of External Affairs, Mr. D.P. Waldron. The Irish delegation participated actively in the negotiations. Ireland signed the Convention on 18 April 1961 and ratified it on 10 May 1967. The Convention is given the force of law in the State under the terms of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967.
61. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will immediately put forward an application to the EU solidarity fund to help with the disasters caused over the past number of weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1324/14]
View answerThe EU Solidarity Fund was set up by the European Union to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity with disaster-stricken regions within Europe. A major disaster is defined as damage estimated at over €3bn or 0.6% of GNI. In Ireland’s case this would amount to approximately €770 million. In exceptional circumstances, however, when the damage is below this threshold, an application can be made but only where a region has suffered an extraordinary natural disaster affecting the major part of its population and with serious and lasting repercussions on the living conditions and the economic viability of the region. Assistance in these cases is at the rate of 2.5%. While two thirds of applications are made on the basis of exceptional circumstances, most do not succeed. Moreover, for the budgetary period 2014-2020, the annual budget has been halved from €1 billion to €500 million, and the Commission has indicated that future grants are likely to be 50% lower than previously.
Any Government decision on this matter will be made in the context of reporting from the Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government on the recent severe weather.
62. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the occasions on which he has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [1361/14]
View answerWith regard to the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the calculation and payment of superannuation benefits, including the awarding of added years, is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
63. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions under the aegis of his Department that were filled between March 2011 and December 2013; the number of these positions that were publicly advertised; and the number of female appointments. [1377/14]
View answerThere are no State agencies operating under the aegis of my Department.
64. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [1393/14]
View answerWhile my Department has actively sought to participate in the scheme, there have been no JobBridge placements in my Department to date.
66. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with South Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1447/14]
View answerTrade and investment promotion are key priorities for the Government, as part of its wider strategy to promote economic growth and employment. The Government is committed to developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with key markets in Asia, including the Republic of Korea (South Korea), to the maximum extent possible.
Korea is identified as a priority market under Ireland’s Trade Strategy, a review of which will be presented shortly. Implementation of trade priorities in Korea is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by the Ambassador and comprised of the Embassy, Enterprise Ireland, which has been present in the market since 2004, and the IDA, which reopened its office in Seoul in 2013. The Embassy and the Agencies in Seoul are co-located in an Ireland House.
The overall objective of the Embassy and the Local Market Team is to support and promote the encouraging increases in trade between Ireland and Korea which have been seen since 2011. Total bilateral trade in goods and services between Ireland and Korea in 2012 was €1.3bn, up from €1.05bn in 2011. Exports in services rose by €272m to €590 million in 2012. From January to October 2013 total merchandise trade with Korea was valued at €604 million up from €579 million in the same period in 2012.
Exports of Irish agri-food products to Korea have also increased, from €10.5m in 2010 to €21m in 2011 and to €23m in 2012. This represents a 121% increase from 2010-2012. The Embassy and Agencies will continue to use all opportunities through 2014 and beyond to build awareness among Korean government ministries, agencies and the private sector of Ireland’s economic recovery and opportunities for Korean business in Ireland; increase Irish exports to Korea, particularly from indigenous Irish companies; and, to promote awareness of and opportunities for investment in Ireland.
67. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1448/14]
View answerDeveloping Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with China is an ongoing priority for the Government. The importance of China as a trading partner for Ireland is reflected in the large number of high level visits that have taken place between Ireland and China in recent years, and the strong growth seen in many key sectors.
Total trade with China (including its various territories) exceeded €8 billion in 2012. Goods and services exports amounted to €5.4 billion, making China Ireland’s 9th biggest export market, and our largest in Asia. The Export Trade Council, which I chair, is responsible for the implementation of Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. The Council includes relevant Ministers, heads of State Agencies involved in trade promotion, along with representatives of the private sector. The Trade Strategy, a review of which will shortly be presented by the Government, identifies China as a priority market.
Regular Ministerial visits play a major role in encouraging and facilitating trade and investment. I was invited by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit China in July/August 2013 and in addition to our bilateral meeting, I met with several senior members of the Chinese Government and held discussions on the full range of bilateral issues, including human rights. While in Beijing and Shanghai, I engaged in trade promotion activities involving a wide range of companies active across all sectors of the economy. Implementation of trade priorities in China is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by our Ambassador and comprising the Embassy in Beijing, the Consulate in Shanghai, and the relevant state agencies. Specific, focused assistance for Irish exporters is provided by the Local Market Team and Enterprise Ireland. EI works with companies to build knowledge and capability, provide mentoring and support, offer funding to explore opportunities, and to build trade links.
Export growth of 19% was recorded in 2012 to bring the total value of goods and services exported by Irish owned companies to China to €346m. Enterprise Ireland has set the objective of achieving exports of €600m by 2016 – an ambitious 73% growth rate over 2012 figures.
The priority target sectors for export development over the coming 3 year period are:
- Financial Services
- Clean Technologies (including Energy Efficiency and Green Buildings)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Information Technologies
- Medical Devices
- Education Services
- Agri-Technologies
- Equine Products and Services.
The value of Irish agri food and related exports to China grew from €167m in 2010 to €323m in 2012, an increase of 93%. Exports for the first 9 months of 2013 were €321m compared with €235m in the same period in 2012 (a 37% increase) and are estimated to be in excess of €400m by end of year. Bord Bia has also established a “Food Hub” in its office in Shanghai which provides a cost-effective way for Irish companies to achieve a presence within the market. At present nine companies are represented in the Bord Bia Food Hub.
My Department, in conjunction with the State Agencies, will continue to utilise all opportunities to promote increased trade and investment between Ireland and China, and to take full advantage of the substantial goodwill and positive relations that exist between our two countries.
68. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1449/14]
View answerTrade and investment promotion are key priorities for the Government, as part of its wider strategy to promote economic growth and employment. The Government is committed to developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with Japan to the maximum extent possible. Japan is identified as a priority market under Ireland’s Trade Strategy, a review of which will be presented shortly.
Japan is Ireland’s 11th largest trading partner, with Ireland enjoying a trade surplus of 3:1. Total exports in 2012 were €4.8 billion while total imports were €1.6 billion. Japan is also a major source of Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland, with Japanese companies employing some 2,500 people here.
Implementation of our trade and investment priorities in Japan is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by our Ambassador and comprising the Embassy in Tokyo working with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.
2013 provided particular opportunities to promote trade and investment with Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Ireland when he came to Dublin last June. The Taoiseach paid a return visit to Japan in December, during which it was announced that Japan had lifted restrictions on the exports of Irish beef to Japan. This key breakthrough followed extensive work over many years by the Embassy, the Department of Agriculture and others, and presents significant opportunities for Irish food exporters.
The Taoiseach also engaged in extensive trade promotion activities in Japan, and agreed a Joint Declaration with PM Abe which provides for cooperation across a wide range of economic and other sectors.
Approximately 50 Irish Companies have a presence in Japan, while there are seven tenants in Enterprise Ireland’s Tokyo office Incubation Centre. EI support to companies includes introductions to potential partners and customers, provision of specialist knowledge on the market place, advice on best routes to market and on the ground support in the incubation centre.
The Embassy and the State Agencies are also working closely to create an awareness of Ireland as a centre for Trade, Innovation and Investment using media, trade missions, networking/multi-sectoral events around St. Patrick’s Day and other key events throughout the year.
The Government will continue to pro-actively utilise all opportunities to promote trade and investment links with Japan.
69. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1453/14]
View answerDeveloping Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with India is an ongoing priority for the Government. The Export Trade Council, which I chair, is responsible for the implementation of Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. The Council includes relevant Ministers, heads of State Agencies involved in trade promotion, along with representatives of the private sector. Total merchandise trade with India in the period January-October 2013 was €539 million, with exports at €204 million and imports at €335 million. Exports in services to India grew by €382 million to €1, 413 million in 2012.
Since 2012, the Irish Embassy and State Agencies in India have worked to a joint strategy which sets out agreed priorities for the bilateral relationship with India.
This includes targets for increased trade, investment, tourism and education links between Ireland and India. The Embassy and Agencies work closely on implementing this strategy, regularly reviewing progress against agreed targets. The strategy focuses on India as a source of inward investment and on encouraging Irish business to investigate market opportunities in India. It also prioritises tourism and education to attract Indian nationals to Ireland and there has been strong growth in these sectors in recent years.
The strategy also commits the Embassy and Agencies to combine resources where possible in order to maximise their combined impact in a market of 1.2 billion people. One example of this was a television advertising campaign concerning the Irish cricket team in late 2012. This was co-funded by the Embassy and Agencies and projected Ireland as a tourism, education and investment destination to an audience of millions.
In addition, the Embassy regularly hosts events with or on behalf of Irish business and the State Agencies with a view to developing their network and client base within India. In 2013, several events were held on behalf of Ireland’s food and beverage industries, the pharmaceutical sector, the bloodstock industry, hotel and tourism sector, aviation services and education, amongst others.
In November 2013, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton TD, led a trade and investment mission to India with the Embassy, EI and IDA. 42 Irish companies and Higher Education Institutions participated in the mission, which targeted sectors including technology, life sciences, financial services, engineering and education.
In 2013, Ireland’s international education sector in India has shown strong results with a year on year 120% increase in visa applications to study in Ireland. The target is to double the number of Indian students studying in Ireland to 2, 000 by 2015, with a further ministerial education mission to India in planning for 2014.
