Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2025
411. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans in budget 2026 to expand trade missions or market access programmes specifically aimed at fashion and creative industries to strengthen Irish brand presence abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47916/25]
View answerThe Government recently published the Action Plan and Market Diversification which has a series of initiatives designed to deepen and expand existing market relationships where possible, identify and cultivate new market opportunities, deepen agency support for companies seeking to diversify their export markets and promote and protect market access for Irish goods. Planning by Departments and Agencies for their 2026 Trade Mission programme will be developed to achieve this objective, in line with the Action Plan on Market Diversification.
Aligned with the launch of the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification, and in response to the US trade tariffs, Enterprise Ireland launched two new grants to support Enterprise Ireland client companies to assess and respond to the impact of US trade tariffs.
• Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Grant offers funding of up to €35,000 for companies to assess the full impact of tariffs, gain market insights and develop mitigation strategies.??
• Enterprise Ireland’s New Markets Validation Grant offers funding of up to €150,000 for companies to develop market entry strategies for new markets or new products.
My Department continues to champion Irish fashion and design through Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo, held annually at the RDS Dublin. This flagship event is a cornerstone of our creative export strategy. It connects Irish designers and makers with over 4,000 buyers from Ireland and overseas. In 2024, Showcase generated over €25 million in sales orders. Enterprise Ireland, working in partnership with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices, promotes the event globally through its network of 39 overseas offices and facilitates international buyer engagement through the International Buyers’ Hub.
In 2025, Enterprise Ireland led a Market Study Visit programme to build ambition within the sector to internationalise. These visits began in the United States and expanded to the Middle East, Canada, and Scandinavia, combining expert-led education with showcasing and networking opportunities.
