Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:19 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the total cost of Irish export promotions; and his views on whether there is room for further expenditure or economies in such spending.
Written Answers. - Export Promotions.
An Bord Tráchtála — the Irish Trade Board — for which I am responsible will receive a grant in aid this year of £37.828 million, an increase of 11 per cent on its outturn for 1992.
The critical need to improve the marketing capability of indigenous industry has been recognised by successive Governments. Since 1989 we have given practical expression to this by annually increasing An Bord Tráchtála's budget and this increased expenditure has been supported by the structural funds at the highest rate possible of 75 per cent.
In the context of the next round of structural funding, I would envisage seeking a further increase in expenditure on An Bord Tráchtála's marketing support services.
Máirín Quill
Ceist:20 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will give details of the co-operation between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the use of Irish Embassies to promote Irish exports; whether he has satisfied himself with current arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:30 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if in an effort to boost foreign investment, he will ensure that there is a trade delegation based in each Irish embassy and consulate, operating on a full-time basis.
Martin Cullen
Ceist:32 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will give details of the co-operation between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the use of Irish Embassies to promote Irish exports; whether he has satisfied himself with current arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 20, 30 and 32 together.
My Department, by which I mean the International Trade Division of the former Department of Industry and Commerce, and An Bord Tráchtála have co-operated closely for many years with the Department of Foreign Affairs and its Embassies in the task of promoting Irish exports and I am happy to say that they have always enjoyed full support from that Department. Indeed, in three countries — China, Russia and Saudi Arabia — the local representatives of ABT are based in the Embassies there.
Following the recent establishment of my Department, personnel from the Foreign Earnings Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs have been assigned there so that a singular, concentrated effort can be made to develop our foreign earnings potential. This reorganisation will, under the transfer arrangements agreed with the Department of Foreign Affairs, create further opportunities for involving Embassies in operational work initiated by my Department and connected with Irish commercial and business interests abroad.
The Culliton report stated that Ireland's overseas embassies could make a stronger contribution to trade promotion and recommended that the staffing of Embassies in Ireland's overseas markets should be strengthened in order to achieve this, using personnel with professional knowledge and experience in business and trade promotion. The Moriarity Task Force considered this recommendation and its report is being considered by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the implementation of Culliton.
In the belief that all of Ireland's overseas representative offices can make an even stronger contribution to promoting our foreign earnings potential and the attraction of foreign investment here, I am restructuring the Foreign Earnings Committee — an inter-departmental and inter-agency committee set up in 1991 to provide for the co-ordination of the overseas activities of Departments and agencies engaged in the promotion and development of Ireland's foreign earnings. At the same time I am commissioning consultants to report to the Committee on the possibility of putting enhanced and more effective representative structures in place to permit a single-minded pursuit of our interests by all parties, including the diplomatic service.