Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
57. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the trade deals that have been signed with the Egyptian Government in the past five years; and the primary export industries from Ireland to Egypt. [31812/16]
View answerIreland does not make trade deals bilaterally. The European Union is responsible for managing trade and investment relations with non-EU countries, and concludes trade agreements on behalf of EU Member States.
The EU has not concluded any trade deals with Egypt in the past five years. However, the EU-Egypt Association Agreement of 2004 establishes a free-trade area which eliminates tariffs on industrial products and provides concessions on agricultural products. In addition, an agreement between the EU and Egypt on agricultural, processed agricultural and fisheries products has been in place since 2010.
Ireland and Egypt signed an Air Services Agreement in 2014. These agreements give carriers rights to operate commercial air services between Ireland and non-EU States. This is a matter for the Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
In February of this year, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reached an agreement with the Egyptian authorities on a certificate to allow the export of Irish cattle into Egypt. This is a matter for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
In relation to the Deputy's question concerning Irish trade with Egypt, according to the Central Statistics Office's website, in 2015, medical and pharmaceutical products accounted for approximately 48% of total goods exports to Egypt. Approximately 21% of exports fell within the category 'Essential oils, perfume materials, toilet and cleansing preps', and about 7% of Ireland's exports came from the category 'Dairy products and birds' eggs'. Trade in services figures for 2015 are not yet available.
