Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore yesterday outlined new arrangements to boost trade and investment which will see the Department of Foreign Affairs taking responsibility for implementing the Government’s trade strategy, as well as the establishment of a new export trade council.
Mr Gilmore, who is Minister for Foreign Affairs, said his department’s new enhanced role in trade promotion was, in part, recognition of the “valuable contribution” its diplomats have been making to the State’s economic recovery.
Mr Gilmore made the remarks in a speech to ambassadors and consuls from Ireland’s 76 overseas diplomatic missions who had gathered for a two-day conference on how to restore Ireland’s image abroad.
He described their mission as “a major diplomatic initiative to restore, in the words of Robert Emmet, Ireland’s place among the nations of the Earth”.
“Because, for all our difficulties, Ireland does have a very positive story to tell, and it is up to all of us to communicate it effectively,” he said. “Our priority, therefore, is to contribute to renewed and sustainable growth by promoting Ireland’s economic and trading interests, cultural and scientific profile and reputation internationally, in close co-operation with other departments and agencies.”
Mr Gilmore will chair the export trade council, which was announced in the programme for government. It aims to strengthen co-operation across all key departments and agencies involved in the promotion and development of trade and exports.
Council membership will include representatives from the private sector, drawing on the experience of those involved in growing export-orientated businesses.
In his address to the diplomats, Mr Gilmore detailed key messages he said needed to be impressed upon foreign politicians, government officials, business leaders and media. These include that Ireland is meeting its EU/IMF rescue package target and is returning to economic growth. He also referred to the dropping of prices and rents and the State’s determination to maintain its low corporate tax rate.
“Our theme today is ‘promoting Ireland abroad’. The best way to restore fully our reputation is to put in place strong policies on issues of national concern and to sell them vigorously to the community and to the wider world,” Mr Gilmore said.
“The decisions we have taken on the banking sector demonstrate that strong, decisive moves can have a positive impact, and I am confident that if we can make similar courageous moves in other domains, we will over time win back the respect and esteem which were lost in recent years.”
The Government is hoping to capitalise on the momentum created by the state visits of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and US president Barack Obama last month.