Strategic Communications Unit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Ceisteanna (406)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

406. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if meetings have taken place between her departmental officials and advisers and State agencies under her remit with the strategic communications unit in the Department of the Taoiseach towards achieving this objective following the publication of Enterprise 2025 Renewed and the commitment given to accelerate efforts to diversify source markets for foreign direct investment supported by stronger cross-Government strategic communications; and the budget allocation for this objective in 2018. [12730/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Department officials and representatives of the Enterprise agencies have engaged with the Strategic Communications Unit as part of the wider development of the Global Footprint 2025 initiative. This process is still ongoing.

With regard to accelerating efforts to diversify source markets for FDI, IDA Ireland will establish a Pioneering Markets team within its Growth Markets Division, specifically targeting investment opportunities from Turkey, the Middle East and South Africa. The Agency also continues to utilise marketing and communications resources to highlight Ireland as an attractive destination to a wide range of global companies, including those from emerging markets.

The IDA's marketing and communications expenditure in 2017 totaled €5.035 million, with figures for 2018 expected to be broadly in line with this. More generally, the Government is continuing to explore how new means of communications can best be harnessed to raise Ireland's global visibility and profile and thereby attract new investment and employment opportunities here.