Enda Kenny
Question:1 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the locations at which Ministers and Ministers of State are to attend 1994 St. Patrick's Day parades in an official capacity; and the Ministers concerned in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Representation at St. Patrick's Day Parades.
As is customary for St. Patrick's Day each year, the Government will send high level representatives to attend parades and other ceremonies to mark the celebration of Irish identity and heritage in the countries of the Irish diaspora.
Again, as is usual, the high level profile of St. Patrick's Day will be availed of by Ministers to promote Irish products and services and to promote Ireland as a location for manufacturing industry and investment.
This year, Ministers will also have the role of relaying to the wider Irish community the significance of the Joint Declaration as a means of healing the divisions among the people of Ireland by establishing the first step towards lasting peace with justice in Ireland.
The individual programmes of those Ministers who will represent Ireland abroad have yet to be finalised but, as of now, representation will be along the following lines: United States: Minister for Finance; Minister for Justice; Minister for Enterprise and Employment; Minister for Equality and Law Reform; Minister of State Brennan; and Minister of State O'Rourke
United Kingdom: Minister for Tourism and Trade and Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
Australia: Minister for the Environment.
Canada: Minister for Education.
Somalia/Kenya: Minister for Defence.
Middle East: Minister of State Dempsey.
I will be in Washington on St. Patrick's Day where I will meet President Clinton and attend a State banquet as his guest. I will use this visit to brief senior American and Irish-American politicians extensively on the development of the peace process in Ireland.
I have further engagements around this date in New York, Chicago and Hartford, Connecticut on IDA-related business and the general economic and trade promotion of Ireland. On my way back from the United States, I will be taking the opportunity to accept an invitation to pay a short official visit to the Bahamas. The invitation was extended to me by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas during his visit to Ireland last year.
I thank the Taoiseach for his extensive reply and wish him a safe journey. Will Ministers and Ministers of State travelling abroad have a similar schedule of business and trade negotiation meetings in the various cities and countries they will visit? He said the Minister for Tourism and Trade will be going to the United Kingdom. Will his visit coincide with the annual race meeting there?
I have no doubt his schedule will incorporate it with the various Irish functions in the United Kingdom around that period. I should say that not all Ministers going abroad will be visiting locations where it will be possible to promote investment in Ireland. Some of them will engage in a cultural, heritage and identification celebration of the Irish community abroad, all of which take place around St. Patrick's Day but, where it is possible and can be availed of, the Deputy can be assured that the respective Ministers will avail of that occasion to promote investment.
I take it that the Taoiseach will brief President Clinton on the up-to-date position so far as the Joint Declaration on Peace in Northern Ireland is concerned?
Absolutely.
I am pleased to note that the Taoiseach will be travelling to the United States for St. Patrick's Day. Will he avail of that opportunity to give interviews on the major network television in the United States to counteract some of the adverse publicity recently generated by Mr. Adams's visit there?
I do not want to interrupt the Deputy but I should inform her that there is a specific question in that regard to the Taoiseach.
While welcoming the fact that the Taoiseach is going to the United States for St. Patrick's Day because it is important that the Head of the Irish Government, particularly this year, should be in the United States in that it will offer him and Government a unique opportunity to give a different view——
I refer the Deputy to Question No. 4.
I specifically want to know whether——
I do not think it is fair that any Deputy should usurp the right and authority of a Member who goes to the trouble of tabling a question. Queue jumping is not in order.
I wanted to ask the Taoiseach whether he intends to give interviews while he is in the United States since Question No. 1 relates specifically to visits by members of the Government to the annual St. Patrick's Day parades.
I cannot and will not allow a Deputy to encroach on a question before the House, No. 4.
A Cheann Comhairle, with respect, this is very unreasonable.
The Deputy is continuing to anticipate a specific question. That is not in order.
Question No. 4 does not relate to the Taoiseach's visit to the United States; Question No. 1 does. I am simply asking the Taoiseach whether, while he is in the United States, it is his intention to give interviews.
The Deputy should read the question again. I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
In view of the fact that the organisers of the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York which he will be attending, again on this occasion, are refusing Irish men and women permission to participate in that march because they are gay, does the Taoiseach intend raising the matter with the organisers of the parade? Furthermore, does he intend to protest on behalf of this House which legislated for equal rights for gay people in Ireland?
That is a separate question.
The question of participation in a parade in New York is a matter for the organisers. Our representative will be the Minister for Equality and Law Reform who, undoubtedly, knows his duties and responsibilities in regard to this country.
That is even more interesting, a Cheann Comhairle. I expect that he will make a strong protest to the organisers of that parade for denying Irish men and women the right to participate in it.
I am sorry, Deputy, the question before us is rather specific seeking information about Ministers and Ministers of State, in their official capacity, attending functions in America.
The Taoiseach mentioned that he will be meeting President Clinton. Apart from the usual formal presentation of the bowl of shamrock and the dinner will there be time in his schedule for a serious meeting with President Clinton to review the position in relation to Northern Ireland?
That is a specific question worthy of a separate one being tabled.
We will come to the issue on Question No. 4.