Taoiseach Brian Cowen arriving at the White House on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2009, for his meeting with President Obama.

Enterprise Ireland issued a press release on March 16th last, stating that the Taoiseach Brian Cowan TD had announced contracts worth over €100m were secured by Irish companies during Enterprise Ireland's trade mission of 92 Irish companies to New York and Washington. Data supplied by the State agency to Finfacts suggests that the claim in respect of new export orders was false.

Enterprise Ireland said the two-day mission, including St. Patrick's Day,  was undertaken to endorse Irish companies in the United States as providers of world-class products and services and to encourage continued investment in Ireland.

EI Press Release: Irish Firms Win in excess of €100m in New Export Sales in the US

The Taoiseach said according to Enterprise Ireland:"This week, Enterprise Ireland client companies secured contracts worth more than €100m with leading, high-profile companies such as Broadridge, Monster Cable, Symantec, Credit Suisse, Verizon and QVC. These contracts are significant and show that Irish companies continue to produce world-class products and services. 

"Securing export sales has always been at the heart of Ireland's economic success but its importance increases exponentially in the current economic conditions.  In the years ahead, overseas sales will be the single most important factor in sustaining employment and wealth creation in Ireland."

The claimed exports bonanza generated headlines such as - - Irish firms win €100m in US export sales, US contracts worth €100m agreed with 92 Irish firms and Irish Software in €100m Windfall - -  the truth of course was that there was no windfall.

Some people may think this is harmless spoof but during the Celtic Tiger period, marketing had primacy over credible enterprise policymaking and much of the media went with the flow.

Journalists can be as economically illiterate, as much of the rest of the population is and besides on trips like the US one, it's easier not to ruffle any feathers.

State agencies are not only complicit in manufacturing propaganda for ministers but in recent years, in public have often acted as their cheerleaders. They may well act the same in private.

Hugh Cooney, Enterprise Ireland Chairman, had hailed the new orders as "significant sales in what is the world's most leading market for innovative, high-tech niche products."

Trade missions are important and ministerial involvement can help in raising the profile in the target market. However, when a minister next calls on Enterprise Ireland to mislead the public, Cooney who is a chartered accountant and partner at accounting firm BDO Simpson Xavier, should reject the request.

The orders making up the €100m total, dated back to September 2008. Enterprise Ireland says only 3 of 24 orders were reported as new orders during the trade mission.