merrion street

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton today welcomed the latest figures from the CSO which show services exports in the first half of 2011 up 8.4% on the first half of 2010.

This data shows that Ireland’s services exports for the second quarter of 2011 reached a new quarterly record of nearly €20bn (€19.888bn) representing an increase of 7.3% on the same quarter in 2010.

Speaking from South Carolina, where he is leading a group of 67 companies on a trade mission to the United States, the Minister said:

A strong export performance will be crucial in driving the recovery in the wider economy. Today’s figures, the latest in a growing body of evidence of high levels of performance in manufacturing and exports, show that an export-led recovery is becoming a real possibility. This is particularly welcome at a time when we are receiving mixed news about the global economy.

It is particularly important that the knowledge-based sectors are

performing so well. Our services exports are continuing to grow even faster than our Merchandise exports, which themselves are performing strongly – up 6% in the first half of this year.

Computer services is the largest services export category, with exports of €15.7bn in the first half of this year, an increase of 15% on the first six months of 2010. Other categories showing strong performances were insurance, financial services and tourism.

I am determined that government will do everything possible to support the continued success of our exports, to get growth back in the economy and get people back to work.