Representing Exporters in Policy Decisions
Policy changes at government and EU level directly affect your ability to export.
New customs procedures, trade agreements, sustainability regulations, transport rules, and market access requirements all impact your operations, costs, and competitiveness.
The IEA participates in meetings with policymakers, government departments, and European officials to make sure Irish exporters are central to policy decision-making processes. When regulations are being drafted or trade rules are changing, we’re in the room representing your interests and raising issues that matter to your business.
Our representation work covers the full range of departments and EU bodies relevant to international trade. Through government stakeholder groups, Government Trade Forums, meetings, and direct engagement with officials, we work to shape policies that support rather than hinder Irish export businesses.
How We Represent Members
Our advocacy work operates at national, European, and international levels. We engage directly with decision-makers on the issues affecting Irish exporters.
- Active participation in government stakeholder forums across multiple departments including Enterprise, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Revenue, Agriculture, and Health
- Direct engagement with EU institutions including Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, and European Commission officials
- Lobbying and policy submissions on customs, trade compliance, sustainability, logistics, market access, and export development
- Regional representation through IEA Board members that feed local issues into the IEA for national policy strategy
- Early warning system alerting members to policy changes and consultation opportunities
- Coordinated industry responses bringing together exporter voices on critical issues
Representation work
The IEA maintains an active presence in policy discussions affecting international trade at both Irish and European levels.
Government Departments
We participate in stakeholder forums across government departments where export-related policies are developed and discussed. This direct access allows us to raise member concerns, provide practical input on proposed regulations, and advocate for policies that support Irish exporters.
Current stakeholder groups include:
- Department of the Taoiseach: National Economic Forum
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Export Trade Council, Enterprise Forum on Brexit and Global Challenges, Stakeholder Group on Enterprise Skills Needs
- Department of Foreign Affairs: Brexit Stakeholders Group, Business and Human Rights Implementation Group
- Department of Transport: National Logistics Forum, Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Group
- Revenue: Customs Consultative Committee
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultative Committee of Stakeholders on Brexit, Supply Chain Working Group
- Department of Health: Brexit Stakeholders for Medicines and Medical Devices
Through these forums, we influence policy development on customs procedures, trade facilitation, skills development, logistics infrastructure, market access, and regulatory compliance.
Civil Society Dialogue Meetings
At EU level, the IEA participates in Civil Society Dialogue meetings with various European Commission Directorates-General. These meetings provide direct input into EU policy development on trade, climate, energy, transport, and other areas affecting exporters.
Commission DGs we engage with:
- DG CLIMA (Climate Action)
- DG ECFIN (Economic and Financial Affairs)
- DG ENER (Energy)
- DG ENV (Environment)
- DG FISMA (Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union)
- DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)
- DG MOVE (Mobility and Transport)
- DG SANTE (Health and Food Safety)
- DG TRADE (Trade)
- Service for the UK Task Force (UKTF)
This engagement allows us to represent Irish exporter perspectives in EU policy discussions on sustainability requirements, trade agreements, transport regulations, customs procedures, and market access issues.
Lobbying and Policy Submissions
We operate transparently within Irish and EU lobbying regulations to advocate for policies that support Irish exporters. Our lobbying activities focus on practical issues affecting your ability to trade: customs procedures, documentation requirements, regulatory compliance, transport infrastructure, and market access barriers.
Our lobbying work includes:
- Formal policy submissions to government departments and EU consultations
- Direct meetings with ministers, TDs, MEPs, and senior officials
- Position papers on trade policy developments
- Coordinated industry responses to proposed regulations
- Media engagement to raise public awareness of export issues
- Regional advocacy through IEA boards connecting local concerns to national policy
All our lobbying activities are registered and published on Lobbying.ie and the EU Transparency Register.
Policy & Trade Updates
Stay informed with expert analysis, practical guidance, and timely updates on the issues shaping international trade.
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IEA members benefit from direct advocacy at government and EU level on the policies affecting their exports.