Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2018
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading partners have been identified in anticipation of Brexit with particular reference to the extent to which the various embassies overseas have reported progress in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40545/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Irish embassies continue to be actively involved in the promotion of increased volumes of trade with Ireland, with particular reference to the aftermath of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 71 together.
The Embassy network is a vital resource for our state agencies through its active support of their daily work and strategic objectives in overseas markets. The Embassy network is an invaluable asset for trade promotion in locations with limited or no state agency presence. In addition to economic and public diplomacy, the Department’s officers overseas and our mission attachés undertake essential work in government-to-government relations across a range of issues including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, DTAS and a host of other activities.
The Embassy network – comprising more than 80 Embassies or Consulates - plays a crucial role in supporting Irish businesses to grow overseas; in promoting our wider trade interests including through EU and WTO regulation; in addressing market access issues; and in supporting Ministerial visits and trade missions, as part of Team Ireland.
There are 30 Enterprise Ireland international locations covering more than 60 countries, alongside 21 IDA international locations covering more than 55 countries and 14 Tourism Ireland international locations covering 23 markets. These are supported by a range of other individuals including pathfinders and commercial attachés.
Taken together, Irish government representatives overseas form Team Ireland. After the very successful inaugural Team Ireland Conference last November, the Government has committed in Global Ireland to the Team Ireland approach and to holding an annual conference. As part of the implementation of Global Ireland and follow up from the Team Ireland Conference, discussions are ongoing about how to ensure that Team Ireland delivers on our ambitions to double our global impact.
At the market level, Team Ireland meets in the form of the Local Market Team, led by the Head of Mission. The Local Market Team is tasked with ensuring that we can best exploit opportunities in market. As set out in our trade strategy, Ireland Connected, we are pursuing two key objectives, namely market diversification and strengthening our presence in our traditional markets.
Strengthening and diversifying our alliances within the EU has assumed renewed importance with Brexit. Work to intensify alliance-building is ongoing, building on Ireland’s strong level of engagement with a range of EU Member States across policy areas of key national concern.
We also greatly value our trading relationship with the UK which is worth approximately €65 billion p.a. and supports 400,000 jobs almost equally divided across the UK and Ireland. Our Embassy in London and Consulate in Edinburgh work in conjunction with the State Agencies to promote and develop this relationship and will continue to do so.
Advancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives through economic diplomacy and related activities is at the forefront of Ireland’s foreign policy and is reflected in our approach to engaging with global challenges as set out in Global Ireland.
Underscoring the Government’s global vision for Ireland and ensuring that our economy is resilient through market diversification, six new Missions will have been opened by early 2019 and a further seven will be opened from 2019 as part of the next phase of expanding Ireland’s Global Footprint. These thirteen new Missions will be located in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Oceania and will contribute to helping develop new markets for Ireland’s exports. One of these new Missions is a Consulate in Cardiff which will also add to our footprint in the UK.
