Paul Bradford
Ceist:42 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason Ireland is now exporting a smaller proportion of its exports to all European Community countries, including Britain, than it was in 1958.
Written Answers. - Exports to European Community.
Louis J. Belton
Ceist:46 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason Ireland is now exporting a smaller proportion of its exports to all European Community countries, including Britain, than it was in 1958.
Donal Carey
Ceist:53 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason Ireland is now exporting a smaller proportion of its exports to all European Community countries, including Britain, than it was in 1958.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:68 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason Ireland is now exporting a smaller proportion of its exports to all European Community countries, including Britain, than it was in 1958.
John Browne
Ceist:85 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny): asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason Ireland is now exporting a smaller proportion of its exports to all European Community countries, including Britain, than it was in 1958.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 46, 53, 68 and 85 together and to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement laying out the principal features of Irish trade in 1958 and in 1991.
I am taking it that the Deputies are referring to a comparison between exports now and in 1958 to the European Community as it is currently constituted, that is, exports to the other eleven member states.
The smaller proportion of Irish exports now to the European Community states as compared with 1958, is due, primarily, to the major and welcome changes which have occurred since then both in the structure of the Irish economy, with particular reference to Irish agriculture and Irish industry, and in the profile of our external trade.
The following are the salient features of our exports in 1958 and in 1991 as shown by the table:
—Our dependence on exports to the UK has decreased from 76 per cent in 1958 to 32 per cent in 1991.
—The percentage of exports taken by EC markets excluding the UK has increased from 6 per cent in 1958 to 42 per cent in 1991.
—The percentage of exports to North America, Japan and other distant markets has increased from 6 per cent to 20 per cent in the same period.
All in all, these details demonstrate our national success in pursuing a deliberate policy of export diversification over the years.
Furthermore, our enhanced export performance contributed greatly to our growing economic maturity. For example, in 1958 Irish exports amounted to £131 million, equivalent to 23 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. By 1991, however, Irish exports had increased to £15,031 million, equivalent to 56 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. Because the measurement of exports as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product is a measure of the openness of an economy, it will be seen that Ireland has, therefore, shifted in the period since 1958 from being a relatively closed economy, relying on domestic consumption, to a very open economy with a high proportion of goods produced being sold abroad.
Additionally, there has been a significant shift in the mix of exports. Seventy per cent of goods exported in 1958 were accounted for by agricultural and food products of which live animals accounted for 35 per cent and food products for the remaining 35 per cent. In 1991, in contrast, manufactured products dominated our exports, accounting for 71 per cent of all exports while processed and unprocessed food and beverages accounted for about 23 per cent of all exports.
Following is the statement:
Destination Breakdown of Irish Exports
|
1958 |
1991 |
|||
|
£m |
£m |
|||
|
EC 11 |
108.1 |
(82%) |
11,165 |
(74%) |
|
Other Europe |
14.8 |
(11%) |
960 |
(6%) |
|
US/Canada |
8.3 |
(6%) |
1,455 |
(10%) |
|
Japan/Rest of World |
0.1 |
(0%) |
1,451 |
(10%) |
|
Total |
131.3 |
15,031 |
||
|
Britain and Northern |
100.8 |
(76%) |
4,802 |
(32%) |
|
Ireland Non UK EC |
7.3 |
(6%) |
6,363 |
(42%) |
|
EC 11 |
108.1 |
(82%) |
11,165 |
(74%) |