LtoR:Mr. Simon Wainright, CEO HSBC Corporate Banking Ireland, Mr. Sean Dorgan, recipient of the IEA Gold Medal, Mr. Liam Shanahan, President of the Irish Exporters Association

Trade Facilitation Gold Medal 2009

The IEA has for many years being promoting Trade Facilitation which has at its aim the simplification of international trading rules, the elimination of duplication and reduction in red tape in international trade. At the annual President's Lunch held on the 23rd of June in Trinity College the IEA awarded its Trade Facilitation Gold Medal 2009 to Mr Sean Dorgan, former CEO of IDA Ireland, for his unstinting work in seeking to make international trade easier and less cumbersome. Speaking at the lunch Mr Dorgan echoed many of the same sentiments as Mr Shanahan.

In accepting the Gold Medal, Mr Dorgan said that the importance to Ireland of investment and exports, and the threats posed by the current global recession, are both essential reasons for supporting the Lisbon Treaty. He said: “The moment of the worst earthquake in our lifetimes is not the time to detach from the strongest structure surrounding us, protecting our current base and providing shelter for our future prospects. At a time when recession and signs of economic nationalism threaten jobs internationally, we would be mad to isolate ourselves from the centre of the EU, the best bastion to support trade and economic success.”

He said that 80% of Ireland’s output is exported which made the country critically dependent on continued openness of international trade. He noted that while some countries are flirting with economic nationalism, taunting the lessons of history, the EU remains the strongest defender of open markets, both within Europe and globally. “The consistent policies and growth of the EU laid the foundation for the growth of the Irish food and other indigenous businesses and for inward investment by global companies. Europe’s success is still critical to us,” said Mr Dorgan .

Mr Dorgan continued: “We have been reminded in the past year how much perceptions matter, in business as in politics and international relations. Business values certainty and confidence; Ireland has provided that through its consistent policies and its place in Europe. Any failure to maintain that, especially in a time of heightened uncertainty and intensified competition, would be gravely damaging.” He added that Europe had been fundamental to Ireland’s success in his working life noting that since Ireland joined the EEC in 1973, our GDP has increased 50-fold in real terms, our exports more than 100-fold and our inward direct investment more than 1,800-fold. The stock of US investment in Ireland in 2006 stood at €83 billion – more than in all the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) combined. As well as this economic measure of the value of the EU to us, think of the social and human dimensions and how our confidence and self-worth grew,” Mr Dorgan said.

“The negative vote on the Lisbon Treaty last year has, however, damaged Ireland’s impact,” said Mr Dorgan. “It is a situation that we must repair because we need to be listened to and heard when discussions are taking place at the heart of Europe. Because we are relatively small and so trade-dependent, our economic prospects are tied to an intimate and central involvement in the EU. We cannot afford to isolate ourselves from the consensus that has been agreed, with our own input, on the future of Europe.” He concluded by saying that the last Lisbon vote was clouded by misinformation and misunderstanding. “We cannot let that happen again – the times are too dangerous and the risks too great. Although the Treaty is a complex legal document, its purpose is straightforward – to improve the way in which the EU and its institutions work. The Irish government played a key role in developing the proposals and they do not offend or damage our national interests in any way.” He concluded: “All of Ireland’s experiences since 1973 support the view that we can hold our own in Europe. We have nothing to fear from what is in the Lisbon Treaty.”

Mr Shanahan thanked Mr Dorgan for his work over the years in facilitating trade from Ireland , and presented him with the Gold medal.

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LtoR: Mr.David O'Rourke. Irish Dairy Board, Mr. John O'Connor, HSBC Corporate Banking

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IEA events
Twelve of the Export Industry's Best Celebrate
Multimodal Transport Law Seminar with Lavelle Coleman Solicitors
IEA Annual Golf Outing 2009
Export Awards 2009 Launched
Mr. Sean Dorgan Awarded IEA Trade Facilitation Gold Medal
Presidents Lunch 2009 - kindly supported by HSBC
IEA President's Lunch & Trade Facilitation Gold Medal