344 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will make a statement on the prospects for a further increase in trade with Russia. [21848/96]

Russia is already a valuable trading partner to Ireland. On the basis of CSO figures, total trade with Russia has grown from £86 million in 1993 to £237 million in 1995, an increase of 176 per cent. Of that figure, Irish exports to Russia have increased more than threefold in the same period, from £60 million to £218 million.

As Russia continues to develop towards a full market economy and, hopefully in due course, becomes a member of the World Trade Organisation, this should open further opportunities for growth in that market.