Speaking in the Dáil this week, Minister Simon Coveney said that three trade missions are currently being worked on.

“I am presently finalising plans to lead trade missions to the US and to Asia, including China, in the last quarter of 2015,” the Minister said in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkin.

“I will also lead a trade mission to West Africa. This mission will offer Irish food companies an opportunity to showcase their produce to a large and emerging market outside of our more traditional destinations,” Minister Coveney said.

The Minister also said that he stands over his record on trade missions he previously led.

“Since my appointment as Minister, I have led several successful trade missions to facilitate trade promotion and market access to markets outside the EU, including to the United States, China, the Gulf States and Algeria....My visits to China and the US were also instrumental in helping to re-open these valuable markets to Irish beef,” the Minister