Review of Export Competitiveness
Leonard called for a review of overseas selling amid concerns about pigmeat and Ireland’s production costs; the Minister agreed exports needed more vigorous promotion.
Does the Minister of State not agree that the time has come to have a complete review of our selling abroad in view of the discussions we had yesterday regarding pigmeat? Now that we are open to imports we find that, not alone will we be restricted on the home market, but we are practically closed out of export markets by our uncompetitiveness in production? We will have to do a better job at selling abroad.
Comment on this
I agree. As a country so dependent on exports, of course, we need to be more vigorous. At the same time, we should not down grade ourselves too much. After all, our exports at present are coming up in the region of £2 billion. That is not a bad performance.