Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014
452. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of personnel that were employed in the trade division of his Department prior to March 2011; the number of personnel that are now employed in that division; his proposals to expand the role and responsibilities of this division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48999/14]
View answerThe staffing information for the Trade and Promotion Division requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. It should also be noted that bilateral trade promotion is the responsibility of each geographic division and unit in my Department. Staffing resources in the Trade and Promotion Division and elsewhere in the Department have been reduced in order to comply with our Employment Control Framework (ECF) targets.
Promoting Ireland Abroad Division March 2011
|
Assistant Secretary |
Counsellor |
First Secretary |
Third Secretary |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
Trade and Promotion Division March 2014
|
Assistant Secretary |
Counsellor |
First Secretary / Assistant Principal |
Third Secretary / Administrative Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
Following a Government decision, certain trade promotion functions were transferred from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the then Department of Foreign Affairs on 1 June 2011. This transfer has given the newly constituted Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade an enhanced role in trade promotion. In particular, I chair the Export Trade Council which brings together relevant Ministers and representatives of Government Departments, as well as the heads of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, and representatives of the private sector to oversee implementation of the Government Trade Strategy. The Trade and Promotion Division provides the Council’s secretariat and led the recently completed review of the Trade Strategy.
I will shortly bring forward for consideration by Government a comprehensive review of Ireland’s foreign policy, which my Department has been undertaking. The review will set out the important contribution of economic diplomacy and the work of the embassy network and overseas offices of the State agencies to the promotion of the Government’s trade, tourism, education and investment goals, and to its objectives of job creation and economic growth.
