Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2017
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which she expects new markets to become available for Irish manufacturing and services in the aftermath of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6580/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of diversifying global markets for Irish goods and services to reduce Ireland's dependence on particular markets has been a key aspect of Ireland's approach to trade in recent years. The UK's decision to leave the EU underscores the prudence of this approach.
The strategy document Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, which was produced in 2010 and which applied up to 2015, contained a number of diversification targets including an increase in the share of the food and drink exports to countries outside the UK from 56 percent to 62 percent and an increase in the share of other exports to countries outside the UK from 57 percent to 63 percent. Both these targets were achieved over the lifetime of the strategy.
Enterprise Ireland's new strategy, which covers the period up to 2020, also reflects the importance of diversifying markets with a target to increase the level of client company exports to countries outside the UK to 67 percent of all exports. There will be a particular focus on the Eurozone where a 50 percent increase in export value is targeted.
The importance of diversifying markets in a post-Brexit environment will also be reflected in Ireland's new trade strategy which is currently being developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
