Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
233. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will confirm her Department has responsibility for Irish trade offices and representations abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45792/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the location and status of Irish trade offices and representations abroad, including the budget allocated to each and any other agencies involved, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45793/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any Irish trade office or representation is collocated with an EU trade office or representation; the extent to which Ireland works with, or cooperates with, EU trade offices abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45794/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 235 together.
Our State Agencies that are responsible for trade – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland – come under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD. Bord Bia comes under the auspices of the Minister for Agriculture Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon T.D. Each agency, of course, has its own Board in place. Information related to the location and status of Irish trade offices and representations, as well as the budget allocated to each should be directed to the parent Departments.
While the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not hold responsibility for trade offices and representations, officials in my Department are working across HQ and the mission network to promote Irish economic interests abroad. Officials in Ireland’s mission network work closely with officials in the state agencies to promote Ireland as a trade and investment partner and promoting Ireland as a place to visit. This work is facilitated by structures of local or regional market teams, which facilitate inter-departmental and inter-agency work on trade and investment. In more than 20 locations at present, the agencies and diplomatic mission are co-located in an ‘Ireland House’. Recently opened examples of Ireland House are located in Tokyo and New York.
At all of our locations outside the EU, our diplomatic missions maintain close contacts with the EU representations, including on political, trade, development cooperation and cultural promotion matters.
On 12th May, I published my Department’s new Statement of Strategy which will guide the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the course of the next three years. There are six primary goals in the Strategy, with Goal number 5 in particular aiming to deepen our global engagement and drive our trade and prosperity.
As referenced above, the Government Action Plan on Market Diversification was developed jointly by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with input from other Government Departments and Agencies. The plan seeks to support Ireland’s businesses in adapting to changing trading environments by striking out into emerging markets and deepening their engagement in existing core markets. There has been significant progress on the plan, with 10 completed early and the majority of medium-term actions well underway.
Specific actions under DFAT’s responsibility that have been completed include the 2026 St Patrick’s Day Programme, the International Sports Diplomacy Strategy, the establishment and meeting of the Joint Economic Commission with the United Arab Emirates (with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment) and an increase in staffing resources for our overseas missions directly linked to diversification as announced in December. The recent Ireland-LAC Trade Horizons Conference was another key action under the plan.
In line with the Action Plan, there was an enhanced focus on trade and investment for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day ‘Promoting Ireland Programme’. This is also set out in our Statement of Strategy under the promoting Ireland actions. The programmes undertaken by ministers all emphasised trade, investment and tourism to help create jobs in Ireland, strengthen the relationship with key economic partners, and engage with Ireland’s diaspora. My own programme in Boston featured a number of trade promotion engagements with EI, IDA, and Bord Bia.
It is important also to note that the Agencies each have commitments under the Action Plan to review their international footprint this year.
