Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 8

Written Answers. - Trade Statistics.

Robert Molloy

Ceist:

153 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the total expected value of exports during 1996; if he has satisfied himself that exporting companies are making the maximum possible contribution to job creation; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that the growth in exports is more effectively translated in additional jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7430/96]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

There are no official trade statistics available yet for any part of 1996; the latest monthly figures published by the CSO are for November 1995.

However, the Central Bank, in its spring bulletin, has predicted export volume growth of 11.5 per cent this year.

The question of the link between exports and jobs has been addressed by many commentators in recent years and it is recognised that multi-national firms, who tend to operate in high-productivity, capital-intensive sectors, have made a significant contribution to our outstanding national export performance. This is why An Bord Tráchtála's focus is now clearly on improving the export performance of the indigenous sector. That sector has also performed well on export markets, in growth rate terms, but, as I stated recently, I wish to see a more broadly-based performance. This, in turn, should translate more immediately into further job creation since indigenous firms tend to operate in more labour-intensive areas. In fact, the quarterly survey of indigenous exporters, carried out for An Bord Tráchtála by the ESRI, shows a jobs gain of nearly 3,500 in these firms by the fourth quarter of 1995, compared to the same quarter in 1994.