1 Oct 2013, 16:44
Trade promotion and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery will be the focus of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade when it meets with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) tomorrow, Wednesday, 2nd October 2013.
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen TD said: “This is the latest in a series of meetings the Joint Committee is holding with Departmental officers, representatives of State Agencies, business networks and private sector organisations to gather information on how trade promotion is being coordinated, the Department’s role in that work and how effective that coordination is. We are also reviewing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s high-level strategies in the economic/trade promotion area.
According to Bord Bia, the agri-food and drink sector accounts for 7.7% of Ireland’s economy-wide Gross Value Added GVA, 10.8% of Ireland’s exports and 8% of total employment. In 2012, Irish agri-food and drink exports increased by an estimated 2% to approximately €9.02 billion. Given the importance of agriculture sector to the State’s exports and international trade, it is timely and opportune to meet with representatives from the IFA to get their perspectives on the role they see the Department and Irish embassies playing in managing, organising and promoting international trade and how they may coordinate their efforts with business representative organisations. It is also a chance to get their views on the measures and initiatives they feel would enhance Ireland’s international trade and exports, particularly in the agri-food and drink sector.”
The meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 4pm on Wednesday, 2nd October 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Media queries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
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F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Seán Crowe, TD
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Olivia Mitchell, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Senators:
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.