Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the detail of the overall trends in import and export trade, trade between Ireland and both Great Britain and Northern Ireland, distinguishing overall volumes of exports and those supported by Enterprise Ireland; and the policy challenges which they raise. [43533/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe performance of the import and export sectors has been significantly impacted over the last three years by both Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as we cautiously emerge from these necessary public health restrictions and global markets begin to open up again, the Government will continue to help businesses in their next phase of recovery and adaptation. My Department has invested to help businesses overcome these challenges, so that they can emerge from this difficult period, resilient and ready for future success.
As outlined in the table below the 2020 export data indicates that client companies of Enterprise Ireland performed better than the national cohort of exporting companies measured by the CSO.
|
Value in €'000 |
2019 Exports CSO €'000 |
2020 Exports CSO €'000 |
2019/'20 Change in Exports CSO |
2019 Exports Enterprise Ireland €'000 |
2020 Exports Enterprise Ireland €'000 |
2019/'20 Change in Exports Enterprise Ireland |
|
Great Britain |
13,581,644 |
12,399,054 |
-8.70% |
6,564,517 |
6,265,271 |
-4.60% |
|
Northern Ireland |
2,207,816 |
2,098,919 |
-4.90% |
1,240,642 |
1,244,554 |
0.30% |
|
United Kingdom |
15,789,459 |
14,497,973 |
-8.20% |
7,805,158 |
7,509,825 |
-3.80% |
Last week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar led the first in-person Trade Mission following the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and since the onset of Covid-19, to London, Paris and Berlin to assist the accelerated export-led recovery of Irish businesses in the UK and Eurozone, Ireland’s closest markets. The UK, France and Germany combined represent 39% of total Enterprise Ireland client exports in 2020, with over 2,300 Enterprise Ireland client companies exporting to these three markets. This mission offered the opportunity to build relationships and increase awareness of Ireland’s offering and why it is an attractive place to invest.
As well as the global efforts driven by our agencies, key to our success in growing exports has been our commitment to trade liberalisation in order to establish new markets for our indigenous sectors. With a small domestic market, further expansion in other markets is essential to our continued economic growth and, in this regard, Ireland will continue to help the EU’s ambitious programme of negotiating new Free Trade Agreements, opening new markets for Irish companies and increasing export and investment opportunities.
