18 Apr 2012, 15:03
Tánaiste and Minister for Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, will attend the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade tomorrow, 19th April to discuss the progress report on the second Global Irish Economic Forum.
The second Global Irish Economic Forum took place in Dublin Castle on 7th – 8th October, 2011. Some 270 members of the Global Irish Network attended the Forum and were joined by members of the Government, Secretaries General of Government Departments, CEOs of State Agencies, members of the Opposition and leading members of the Irish business and cultural sectors for a range of discussions on how the Diaspora can contribute to Ireland’s economic recovery.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade published a progress report on the Second Global Irish Economic Forum. We are looking forward to our meeting with the Tánaiste to discuss the findings of that report and ascertain the level of progress achieved across the areas identified by the Government as priority areas for action following the publication of the Report of the Forum last November. We will also consider the Government’s decision to focus on a select number of priority outcomes in areas such as job creation, inward investment, support for our SME and export sectors and enhancing our international reputation.”
The Committee will also review the St Patrick’s Day programme of events with the Tánaiste.
Deputy Breen said: “Our national holiday, St Patrick’s Day, offers our country a unique opportunity to present itself on the world stage. While it is a time when people around the globe celebrate Ireland and what it means to be Irish, it also offers a chance to build relationships and strengthen bonds.
In the report of the Second Global Irish Economic Forum, held in Dublin Castle last October, St. Patrick's Day was identified as 'a unique asset for Ireland' that should be utilised fully as an opportunity to extract maximum marketing effect for the country.
Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to review the visits by Ministers to key countries around St Patrick's Day and discuss the impact of the programme of visits on promoting and publicising business, trade, tourism and investment opportunities in Ireland.”
The meeting with the Tánaiste will start in Committee Room 4 at 2.30pm on Thursday, 19th April.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.