Vol. 413 No. 5
3 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach when he proposes to nominate a Minister of State to the Government to fill the current vacancy; if, in that context, he will consider the appointment of a Minister of State for Foreign Trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I told the House on 15 November, the Government will make an appointment to the remaining vacancy for a Minister of State and will reallocate responsibilities among Ministers of State in the near future.
The Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Commerce, Deputy Leyden, already has responsibility for foreign trade.
I understand from the Taoiseach's replies to Questions Nos, 1 and 3 that he intends to reallocate portfolios. Given the increased demands on Ministers in the context of our European involvement and also given the unprecedented level of unemployment and the necessity of increasing opportunities in export markets, would the Taoiseach not agree that ideally we should have a Cabinet Minister responsible for foreign trade but since that opportunity is not available we should have a junior Minister with that responsibility?
The Minister for Industry and Commerce has primary responsibility for foreign trade and he is assisted by a Minister of State. I recognise the importance of foreign trade, but I believe that the present arrangements allocate sufficient importance to the area.
In many other states, particularly in the Nordic countries, there are specific Ministers with responsibility exclusively for foreign trade. This allows the Minister the opportunity of spending far more time seeking out markets and assisting the bodies charged with developing foreign trade and opportunities for exports. Given the other demands on the Minister for Industry and Commerce at present, he does not have the time available to look for export opportunities which might alleviate the level of unemployment.
The Deputy has picked a very bad time to make that point because the Minister for Industry and Commerce is at this moment in South Africa exploring the possibilities for trade.
He is sizzling in the sun.
And the further away the better, from the Taoiseach's point of view.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs also has a mandate in that area. Countries allocate responsibility in their own way. In our case we have a special semi-State body, the Trade Board, to promote foreign trade.
If the Taoiseach is not in a position to accede to Deputy Spring's request, given that the bishops in the west called a special conference to highlight the depopulation of rural Ireland, particularly in the west, and also given that the Taoiseach's birthplace is now without a holder of ministerial office, would he consider the appointment of a Minister of State for western development, with a co-ordinating and monitoring role in respect of the various agencies in that region?
That is a separate question.
I am sure the Taoiseach would like to answer.
Castlebar was too big for the two.
That sheep was allowed to stray. Has the Taoiseach considered the institutional link between the Department for Industry and Commerce, who are responsible for trade, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, who have responsibility for embassies, in view of the need to develop the trade role of the embassies? Is there a need to establish a ministry of state bridging Foreign Affairs and Industry and Commerce as Departments to bring them closer together in the promotion of trade?
This is an ongoing argument which is settled in different ways by different Administrations.
I suppose there is an argument for putting foreign trade under the Minister for Foreign Affairs. That would have some advantages. On the other hand, the Minister for Industry and Commerce has much more detailed knowledge of our capacity to export and the areas in which we would be seeking market outlets. On balance, it has always been decided that the Minister for Industry and Commerce should have primary responsibility at Government level for foreign trade. There is, of course, close co-ordination between the two Departments. In fact, all our embassies play a very important role in facilitating the development of exports. For instance, there is always close co-operation between the embassy in a particular country and the trade board as it is now called. In fact, some years ago I instituted a programme whereby there would be an "Ireland House", one centre, in every major city where all the agencies connected with promoting Irish interests could be found. That programme is proceeding.
May I suggest to the Taoiseach that he might consider the appointment of the same Minister of State at both Departments as a way of establishing a bridge between the two?
Would the Taoiseach consider looking at the situation because I am convinced — and I hope he takes congnisance of this — that there are further opportunities for establishing and developing exports and that this could be achieved with the help of a Minister who has full-time responsibility for this area?
I would be glad to have practical suggestions from any Deputy in that area because it is crucially important. As a country, we live by our exports. I cannot think of any other country where such a high percentage of the total economy is in the external area. A very high percentage of our gross national output is exported. Therefore, this area is crucial to our whole economic progress and job creation, and I would be very glad to hear any ideas Deputies might have with regard to additional avenues that could be explored.
