Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Irish embassies abroad 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. [17811/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Embassy network plays a central role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as part of Team Ireland overseas. Embassies and Consulates around the world provide vital support for Ireland’s State Agencies, including by supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. This is particularly important in the context of Brexit. Embassies also play a central role in supporting Ireland’s trade objectives in markets with limited or no State Agency presence.
In June 2018, the Government launched the Global Ireland initiative, which aims to double the impact of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. Global Ireland's targets include enhanced global engagement, the expansion of Ireland’s Embassy network and strengthening of Ireland’s State Agency presence overseas. Its aims include increasing Ireland’s international visibility, facilitating market diversification and intensification, and enhancing bilateral relations in support of the Government’s economic and political objectives, including in the context of Brexit.
To date, the Government has approved funding for 13 new Embassies and Consulates, which are either already open, or set to open during 2019 or 2020. We have already opened new Embassies in Wellington, Bogotá, Santiago and Amman, and new Consulates in Vancouver and Mumbai. The Irish Aid office in Liberia has been upgraded to an Embassy. New Consulates will open in Cardiff, Los Angeles and Frankfurt this year, followed by the opening of Embassies in Kyiv, Manila, and Rabat.
These locations have been chosen based on a range of factors, including their potential to diversify our markets, to grow trade and investment with Ireland, and to enable Irish companies to better take advantage of new opportunities.
Officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade across the Embassy network continuously engage in economic and public diplomacy, to advance Ireland’s prosperity and raise awareness of Ireland as a great place to live, study, work, visit and do business.
The Department’s officers overseas engage with host country Governments and multilateral institutions on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and Double Taxation Agreements.
The Embassy network also supports Irish businesses in market, by providing contacts and information, organising Ministerial visits overseas and supporting trade missions, in partnership with the state agencies.
My Department works closely with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and other State Agencies, both at home and overseas, to support Enterprise Ireland-led trade missions, and to ensure that firms based in Ireland are enabled to take advantage of new market opportunities. This approach is aligned with the objectives set out in the Government’s trade strategy Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World.
Finally, my Department convenes four Joint Economic Commissions. Through these formal inter-governmental fora the Department, along with other Departments and State Agencies, advances mutually beneficial initiatives with China, Russia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
