Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
205. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the key measures taken in the area of trade and investment during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73148/25]
View answerMy department and its agencies delivered in 2025 a full programme of Ministerial led Trade Missions, including to locations such as Japan, US Midwest, Germany, Canada, UK and Scandinavia. In November, I hosted the 14th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting between Ireland and China, followed by the 1st JEC with the United Arab Emirates in December. These JEC’s facilitate regular consultations on trade, investment, tourism and economic policy by strengthening cooperation across sectors, leading to enhanced market access for Irish businesses.
In 2025, I launched the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification, a strategic whole of government initiative designed to bolster Ireland’s economic resilience and expand global trade opportunities for Irish businesses, backed by increased State agency support. In September I also published the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. The Action Plan is a critical government initiative, in light of the rapidly evolving global landscape. The plan contains 85 actions for enhancing our competitiveness and productivity performance, with 26 of these identified for priority action.
Earlier in 2025, I launched a first-of-its kind, new Semiconductor Strategy “ Silicon Island” , designed to strengthen Ireland’s role in the global semiconductor industry and fulfil a key Programme for Government commitment.
In October 2025, my department published the Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, incorporating tourism for the first time, and placing emphasis on competitiveness, digitalization, decarbonisation, infrastructure, and preparing for our 2026 EU Presidency.
With the additionality of Tourism to my Department, I recently launched a National Tourism Policy Statement, “A New Era for Irish Tourism”, which sets ambitious targets to grow international and domestic tourism revenue with a focus on culinary tourism, air connectivity and regional off peak development, with sustainability at its heart.
Key priorities for my department in 2026 will include:
1. Finalising and rolling out of the key reforms outlined in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, particularly those enhancing trade support, reducing business costs, and improving energy and infrastructure resilience.
2. Continuing to monitor delivery on the Action Plan for Market Diversification, drawing on strengthened diplomatic and State-agency networks to grow Irish exports and tourism in non-traditional high-growth regions.
3. Driving forward the 71 actions in “A New Era for Irish Tourism,” with a focus on improving culinary tourism, air access, off peak regional growth, skills development, employment quality and sustainable tourism infrastructure.
4. Leadership during EU Presidency 2026: Positioning Ireland as a thought-leader in the EU by promoting open trade, sustainable enterprise, market diversification, and regulatory competitiveness at the European level.
