Ceist:
19 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the reason there has not been a significant growth in cross-Border exports arising from the cessation of violence in Northern Ireland. [16870/95]
Written Answers. - Cross-Border Exports.
There is a continuing positive balance in our trade with Northern Ireland which in 1994 stood at £186 million plus. In the first five months of 1995, the latest period for which CSO statistics are available, that trend has continued and a positive trade balance of £71 million has been recorded.
In the period September 1994 to May 1995, exports to Northern Ireland amounted to £565 million, an increase of 7 per cent over the corresponding period the previous year. During the same period imports from Northern Ireland amounted to £427 million, an increase of 20 per cent.
This trend is not surprising. For the past 25 years, economic development in the North has been seriously inhibited by the security situation there. As the North attempts to develop its exporting sector, their exports, in the short-term, will tend to rise at a faster pace than our own. This growth is also facilitated by the larger market available in the South.
The situation is further exacerbated by a continuing slump in our live animal and meat preparation exports, which have fallen by £75 million since 1992.
There are indications that both before and since the ceasefire, the overall figure for exports to the North was disguising a buoyant performance especially in the indigenous sector, supported by An Bord Tráchtála. ABT client companies experienced increases of around 30 per cent in 1994 over 1993, and in 1993 over 1992.
Of course, the emergence of a more integrated all-Ireland market will mean new challenges to exporters, particularly for certain firms, and certain sectors, here. This is the inevitable consequence of increased mutual awareness and greater market penetration in both directions. However, the overall result should be a greater share of the all-Ireland market being held by Irish firms, North and South. With increased inward investment to the North, the potential in the sub-supply area alone for southern exporters should be very significant.
ABT's activity levels in support of southern firms in the northern market have increased since the ceasefire. Specific initiatives taken by ABT include the production of 15 marketing guides for various sectors and a number of "Meet the Buyer" events.