57. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures being taken to expand trade with our EU partners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38395/26]

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I strongly support an ambitious European trade agenda that reflects a rules-based multilateral trading system, with World Trade Organisation (WTO) values at its core. This includes concluding open negotiations for both Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Investment Protection Agreements (IPA) with reliable partners; and expanding the suite of EU FTAs to new territories.

However, I am also committed to growing trade within the Single Market. EU partners often provide one of the first markets to which Irish companies export and where they can grow their businesses. However, our Single Market remains a work in progress with the IMF estimating that internal barriers to trade in the Single Market amount to the equivalent of tariffs of 40% on goods and 110% on services. Ireland is committed to the further strengthening and deepening of the Single Market, particularly in services, through the new Single Market Strategy and through application of rigorous competition policy and robust state aid rules.

Strengthening the Single Market will be an important priority during Ireland's EU Presidency in the second half of this year. Our work in this area will also be guided by the newly agreed "One Europe, One Market Roadmap".

Finally I would also highlight that the development of deeper trade and investment relations is also prioritised in our bilateral relations with all EU partners as well as in the Global Ireland strategies, which are in place with France, with Germany and with the countries in the Nordic Baltic region. In visiting to EU capitals, I always seek to include a business engagement in order to better understand the activities of Irish companies and how we, as Government, can best support them. I was pleased to meet with a range of Irish companies in Warsaw last month and I will do the same on a visit to Rome later this month.