The plan to merge the Irish Trade Board with Forbairt and FAS would hurt smaller exporters, the Labour Party spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment, Mr Tommy Broughan, said yesterday .
He said the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, should be supporting and providing more resources to the Irish Trade Board so that it could serve smaller Irish exporters better by exclusively concentrating on developing the Irish export trade.
"It should be aggressively promoting Irish goods abroad and identifying, opening up, and supporting, especially smaller, Irish companies to avail of export market opportunities. I believe this will not be possible for the Irish Trade Board if, as reported, Ms Harney foolishly merges it with Forbairt and part of FAS," he said.