Written Answers. - St. Patrick's Day Celebrations.
Jim Higgins
Question:
167
Mr. J. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the countries recently visited by him in connection with St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the countries visited by the Minister of State in his Department; the composition of the official party; and the total cost to the Exchequer in each case.
I recently visited the US, where I represented the Government at the St. Patrick's Day events in Boston and Rhode Island. I was accompanied on the visit by my wife and my Partnership Programme Manager. The community of Boston is 40 per cent Irish, while 22 per cent of the population of Rhode Island is of Irish ancestry.
The events planned around St. Patrick's Day by Irish Americans afford Government Ministers the unique opportunity to promote the benefits of investing in Ireland to top American business men and women. These visits are fundamentally important in showing solidarity with the 44 million strong Irish American community. They also represent an opportunity to show Ireland's appreciation of the continuing interest and support of the US in Irish affairs.
My programme included several addresses to hundreds of top Irish American business people. It also included a prestigious invitation to address both Houses of the Rhode Island Legislature and to strengthen the links between our communities.
I met with the chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Clayburn Pell, a strong supporter of Ireland. I also met with the Governor of Massachusetts, Mr. William Weld and had discussions with Speaker Flaherty and the Mayor of Boston, Mr. Raymond Flynn, another prominent supporter of Ireland. I met the President of the Massachusetts Senate, Mr. William Bulger. I attended functions of several prominent charities, which raise millions of dollars to help our emigrants in the Boston area and to fund welfare, cross Border and job creation projects in Ireland. I had discussions about their problems with Irish American groups working with emigrants.
I took time out of my programme to meet with Ms. Willow Shire, Senior Vice President of Digital Equipment Corporation, with responsibility for the Health and Welfare Industries. My purpose at this meeting was to ensure that the contribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Digital Ireland and Ireland's potential as a centre of excellence is fully appreciated at this critical time in the Corporation's reassessment of its future.
Final costs are not available, but it is estimated that the total cost will be approximately £10,000.
The Minister of State at my Department did not travel abroad for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
