Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which ongoing trade missions continue to succeed in attracting foreign direct investment to this country; the estimated number of jobs created arising therefrom in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12689/14]
View answerI have undertaken a significant number of foreign direct investment missions with IDA Ireland, export-focussed trade missions with Enterprise Ireland and joint trade and investment missions with both agencies since taking office in March 2011. The foreign direct investment missions arranged by IDA Ireland typically involve meeting with Chairpersons, CEOs and other senior executives of leading companies, across all sectors. Some of the companies which I met during 2013 already had substantial and valuable activities in Ireland and those meetings focussed on retaining, expanding and further embedding their presence here. For companies who do not have a presence in Ireland, the focus was to underpin Ireland as a location for the proposed investment against intense competition from other locations around the world. In addition to the foreign direct investment missions organised by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted international trade missions, focussed on assisting Irish firms target and secure international contracts and overseas partners.
Both agencies see the Ministerial-led missions as key marketing tools. They provide, at first hand, an opportunity for the Minister to reinforce the Irish Government’s commitment to both foreign direct investment and export-led growth. In the case of both foreign direct investment missions and trade missions, it is not possible to establish a direct relationship between the number of jobs created or investment secured in any one year to the discussions/marketing undertaken in that year. However, the positive impact of our overseas activity can be seen in the overall jobs statistics for agency client companies in 2013. IDA client companies created a total of 13,367 jobs during 2013. The net number of new jobs created at 7,071 represented the fourth consecutive year of growth in net employment, while the total number of persons employed in IDA client companies stands at a historical high of 161,112. In 2013 Enterprise Ireland client company employment totalled more than 175,000 on a full and part time basis, representing a growth of 5,442 jobs in the year.
The importance of our overseas activity has been highlighted in the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs by the inclusion of a new Disruptive Reform entitled Winning Abroad. Under the Action Plan, the Government will: Target the creation of an additional 10,000 new jobs (6000 direct and 4000 indirect) over 5 years through an investment programme which will see the provision of additional resources to IDA Ireland to be deployed overseas including in emerging markets, intensifying FDI employment growth; Increase support for companies seeking to trade internationally, through the provision of additional on-the-ground support by Enterprise Ireland in overseas markets including China, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and South Africa. This will also include targeting 650 companies to have significant engagement with the Enterprise Ireland potential exporters division, working with 55 first time exporters and providing a range of programmes to exporters in 2014; Develop the capabilities of Irish enterprises to grow exports through programmes aimed at both existing exporters and potential exporters; Promote Ireland’s image abroad to drive increased trade, tourism and investment and implement Local Market Plans in priority markets; and undertake targeted initiatives in sectors including international education services, engineering services and cultural services and design.
