Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
101. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role his Department plays in advancing Ireland’s trading interests; how it utilises the diaspora in relation to this aim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4395/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and its mission network play an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world.
The Department’s network of embassies and consulates are central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development of trade, investment and tourism. Team Ireland work to build education, science, technology and innovation partnerships; and promote our culture and creative industries. In addition to sustaining strong bilateral relationships and working to maintain and protect the rules based international order - both critical for the realisation of Ireland's trade and investment objectives - embassies and consulates support the State Agencies in their delivery of strategic objectives in overseas markets.
Officers within the mission network engage in economic and public diplomacy to advance Ireland’s prosperity, as part of overall duties to promote Ireland's interests and support our citizens. They also support the delivery of Ministerial visits and trade missions, in partnership with Team Ireland colleagues. Missions also work more specifically on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and double taxation agreements. The role of the network in promoting and protecting Irish trade interests is particularly important in markets with limited or no State Agency presence.
The Department is guided in this work by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has lead responsibility for this strategy, which sets out seven priority actions. The Department of Foreign Affairs is strongly supporting its implementation, at home and abroad, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other departments.
Engaging our diaspora in advancing Ireland's trading interests is an important element of Global Ireland - Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025. “Our Prosperity” is one of the five pillars of that strategy, focussed on building mutually beneficial economic ties with the diaspora. Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Department provides funding for Irish business networks in different parts of the world, recognising their importance in terms of convening diaspora and as a resource for Team Ireland and Irish business.
Team Ireland works closely with these Irish business networks, as well as with individual business leaders with connections to Ireland, to advance Ireland’s interests. These networks and business leaders are often very generous in sharing their expertise and knowledge, which can be helpful to Irish companies trying to break into new markets.
Markets and diaspora communities evolve however, and the Department is continually looking at ways to strengthen the connection with our business diaspora, harnessing and utilising their expertise and goodwill for mutual benefit.
