Vol. 431 No. 7
2 Mr. Shatter asked the Taoiseach the meetings he had in Malaysia; the impact on the Irish economy of this visit; the number of new jobs likely to be created as a result; and the effect of his visit on relations between this State and Malaysia.
I made a four-day official visit to Malaysia from 27 to 30 May, on the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir. I was accompanied by the Minister for Tourism and Trade and a delegation that included representatives of 19 Irish companies drawn from the healthcare, education/training, software, engineering, food and aviationrelated sectors.
The visit was a follow-up to the visit to Ireland last September by the Prime Minister, a number of his Ministers and a trade delegation from Malaysia.
The most significant events of the visit to Malaysia were: meeting the Prime Minister and a number of his Ministers to discuss issues of mutual concern to our two countries, especially co-operation in the economic and business field: the signing of six memoranda of understanding between Irish companies and their Malaysian counterparts for contracts with a potential value of £40 million to the Irish companies; briefings on Malaysian development plans, in particular on the major project to build a new international airport due for completion in 1997 with an initial capacity of 25 million passengers at a cost of US $650 million for the first phase; addressing some 300 members of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia on the advantages of investing in Ireland as a base for doing business in Europe; welcoming the lauch of an Irish-Malaysian Business Council; the signing of a Co-operation Agreement between the National Chamber in Malaysia and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce; and meeting members of the Irish community who have been making a greatly appreciated contribution to Malaysian life.
I am satisfied that my visit to Malaysia was successful in meeting its objectives. The contracts being finalised by the Irish companies who participated in the trade delegation and the business development flowing from the visit will lead to the maintenance and creation of much needed jobs in this country.
Can the Taoiseach indicate to the House how many jobs the visit will ensure will be maintained and how many jobs does he believe the visit will result in creating?
I did not expect this type of question to come from Fine Gael for a second time. I remember a similar question being asked on my return from a visit to the US. There has been ample evidence since then that the projections made then have been fully complied with. I have no intention of getting into this area. I regret Deputy Shatter's attitude to a fuller involvement by the Irish business sector in the development of the Malaysian economy, which is the most dynamic economy in the world. It has averaged 8 per cent growth over the last 30 years. It has a 30 year plan to average 8 per cent growth between now and 2020. There is an opportunity here for Ireland to get its share of the increasing business in that region. I hope Deputy Shatter accepts that.
I do not know why the Taoiseach is upset. Is the Taoiseach aware that this question has now allowed him to give details of his visit to Malaysia which he was apparently so distressed that he was unable to give the other evening when he walked out of the press conference? I have no objection to this visit. It was a good idea. I would suggest that rather than this being a single visit by the Taoiseach, we should maintain ongoing contacts with that country having regard to the strength of their economy and the manner in which it is growing. Could the Taoiseach indicate to the House in the context of the Irish community in Malaysia whom he met other than P.J. Mara——
We should not indulge in personalities.
I beg your pardon, Sir. Could the Taoiseach also indicate to the House if it is intended that other Government Ministers will in the coming months visit Malaysia and, if such visits take place, is there any possibility of a Cáirde Fáil fundraiser taking place?
Please, Deputy Shatter. This is ridiculous.
It is typical of the man. It is typical of the Deputy. It is typical of the attitude of the people sitting on the far bench. Long may they remain there for the benefit of the Irish community. I will be glad to circulate to all Deputies in this House a full and detailed memorandum on every aspect of the Malaysian trip. Deputy Shatter's question shows his lack of knowledge in relation to the institutions in Malaysia. Deputy Shatter made a jocose remark about the most important institutional organisation in Malaysia which is called Mara. That is the organisation which drives the development of the economy. I would not like to think that that type of remark would get back to the people in Malaysia, who deeply appreciate the involvement of Ireland in the development of their economy over the years. We sent missionaries there 50 and 60 years ago, people like the De La Salle Brothers and Irish nuns, who laid an education base there. The College of Surgeons have been taking in medical students from there, some of them now prominent surgeons in Malaysia. We took in students when others were not prepared to do so.
There is an opportunity for our educational infrastructure to benefit quite significantly from the development of the Malaysian economy. If I might give the House just one example, the requirement of the Malaysian economy between now and the year 2020 is for 60,000 accountants. Our business institutions, the accountancy profession and the educational infrastructure can benefit enormously, apart from Aer Lingus, who have been doing business with Air Malaysia for quite some time, and Aer Rianta, who are involved in the building of a new airport. I am confident an Irish company will be joint participants in that project.
In the context of the Taoiseach's trade talks with the Malaysian Government and with other interested organisations there, would he say what was the balance of trade between Ireland and Malaysia for 1992?
I have not that figure on the file. I shall be glad to send it to the Deputy, but I can say it certainly was not in our favour.
May I remind the Taoiseach that there is a question on this matter for written reply on today's Order Paper?
Today?
Yes, today.
No doubt the Deputy will receive an answer. Subject to correction, I think the deficit in Malaysia's favour is in the region of £8 million. If the Deputy is wondering why I have not read it, I should tell him I have just returned from a rushed luncheon with the Portugese delegation.
One might have thought that the Taoiseach would have known that before going to Malaysia.
The Deputy might refrain from those smart alec-type remarks and listen to Deputy Jim Mitchell, a man who was in that region himself.
Being in Southern Malaysia on my way back from Cambodia, I observed on television in Malaysia the coverage given the Taoiseach's visit there which was commendable. In view of the importance he attaches to the Malaysian economy, and indeed the booming economies of Singapore and Thailand, will the Taoiseach say whether the Government has any plans to open up diplomatic representations in any of the South East Asian countries and, if so, when?
That would be quite an extension of this question.
There is an obvious deficit in our overseas representation in that region. I am glad Deputy Jim Mitchell was there to see for himself. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Tourism and Trade are examining that overall area with a view to ascertaining how we can have a better focused overseas representation in that dynamic region.
I observed from the press and television reports that the Prime Minister for Malaysia discussed Bosnia with the Taoiseach. Would the Taoiseach say what was the result of those discussions and whether the position in Cambodia was also discussed?
The positions in both those countries were discussed. There is very serious concern felt by the Prime Minister and people of Malaysia at the position obtaining in Bosnia and the lack of progress being made by the international community in endeavouring to find a solution to the enormous problems there. He informed me that Malaysia stands ready to participate in sending troops there to seal off the border or become participants in whatever the international community decide to do. He shares our concern in that regard. As the House will know, it is a multi-racial society in Malaysia, comprised of 35 per cent Chinese, 54 per cent Muslim and approximately 11 per cent Indians and others. They are a very settled society who simply cannot understand and are disappointed and frustrated at the lack of progress being made by the international community on Bosnia.
Will the Taoiseach say what type of exports we send to Malaysia? In what areas does he envisage the possibility of growth in exports? Does he foresee a role for other commercial State companies, such as the ESB or Telecom Éireann, expanding into these areas, thereby affording us an opportunity to promote these companies as multinationals in terms of growth and employment opportunities?
I agree with Deputy Barrett in relation to the opportunities that are available, not alone to the private sector but to the overall semi-State commercial sector. Quite a number of those companies were represented on the trade delegation which consisted of 19 company representatives. There are opportunities for the ESB, Aer Rianta and Telecom Éireann since an infrastructure that expects to multiply its GDP eightfold over the next 20 years has an obvious demand for such services. There are tremendous opportunities in the area of educational and training expertise. I would agree with some Members who said that we have ignored these types of developing areas for far too long. We have a good service to sell and a good track record in many other countries that have availed of that service. One might mention the marketing of dairy products such as Kerrygold butter and so on.
Would the Taoiseach say whether the Cambodian position was discussed?
Yes, and I discovered that they were pleasantly surprised by the election results there. Their people were involved, side by side with ours, in Cambodia in supervising the recent elections there and were quite pleased with the results. Those are the types of areas in which we stand and work together internationally with the Malaysians. A great camaraderie is being built up between our people serving abroad and the Malaysians.
