Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Irish-manufactured products continues to compete on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19104/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to working to make Ireland a "world-leading" location to start and scale a business and make Irish firms’ global leaders by investing in skills, digitalisation, climate and innovation working towards promoting Irish companies on world markets.
To assist companies dealing with Covid-19 and working through our agency Enterprise Ireland the Sustaining Enterprise Fund approved €183.1m in funding to 740 companies sustaining 30,000 jobs; 8,000 companies benefited from advice and guidance. As we emerge from Covid–19 we have provided companies with assistance through the Accelerated Recovery Fund to assist companies to recover and embrace new opportunities.
My department also provides companies access to overseas markets through our network of 40 offices around the world. The export performance of Irish companies during the pandemic was robust despite the challenges, with exports growing by 0.3% to €25.486bn. In 2020, sales and export growth of Enterprise Ireland’s clients during the year were 0.7% and 0.3% respectively, that is in sharp contrast to average contraction of 6.8% across the EU. During an exceptionally challenging year, Ireland was the only economy in the European Union (EU) to grow in 2020.
In 2021, Enterprise Ireland client companies saw strong employment growth in 2021 and the highest increase in net jobs created in a single year, at 11,911. Employment increased across all economic sectors with an additional 1,375 overseas contracts won and 184 companies assisted to enter new markets, despite the pandemic-related restrictions.
CSO Merchandise Trade Statistics for January 2022 show that the value of Irish exports was 23% higher than they were in January 2021 and volume of exports were 12% higher.
Enterprise Ireland also launched a new three-year strategy this year which aims to create 45,000 new jobs over the next three years. It also plans to increase exports by clients to €30bn through the continued growth of export focused Irish firms across all regions.
Official statistics on the impact of the Ukrainian crisis will be revealed over the coming weeks by the CSO, but relative to our global competitors we believe Irish manufacturers are well placed to recover and continue to grow following two very challenging years.
