Coordinating trade with aid to Zimbabwe
FitzGerald asked whether Ireland reviews trade-with-aid opportunities across departments or handles them piecemeal. Burke said CTT coordinates groundwork with other departments and that such opportunities are considered continually.
Will the Minister state if there has been any general review of the possibilities for this country of trade with aid to the Republic of Zimbabwe relating not merely to exports but to other aspects and other Departments? In the past a number of Irish State-sponsored bodies under various Departments assisted countries in the Third World. Is there any general review of the situation or is it being done piecemeal, Department by Department?
Comment on this
This is done in co-operation with CTT who are the leaders so far as doing the ground work on behalf of various Departments is concerned. I assume the Deputy has in mind organisations such as the ESB or Aer Lingus—the latter have training programmes for airline staff. This is continually under consideration not only for Zimbabwe but for other countries where we have trade links.