Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 2

Written Answers. - Inward Investment Conference.

Seamus Kirk

Question:

25 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has for co-ordinating a submission to the proposed Philadelphia Conference on Inward Investment to Northern Ireland and Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1409/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I would point out to the Deputy that the subject matter of the conference he refers to extends considerably beyond the remit of my Department. He will also wish to know that the venue for the conference has been switched from Philadelphia to Washington and is now scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 May 1995.

While the conference is being organised primarily by the United States, officials from my Department together with representatives of IDA Ireland and Forbairt recently met the US assistant secretary for international economic policy, Mr. Charles Meissner, who was accompanied by representatives from the US Embassies in London and Dublin to discuss details of the conference. Mr. Meissner also met officials of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Trade, representatives of a number of county enterprise boards, county councillors and numerous other interested parties from the Border counties and Northern Ireland. Further meetings are planned with the USA representatives including one later this week when I am meeting Senator George Mitchell who has been charged by President Clinton with co-ordinating the Washington conference.

Of the three main topics likely to be focused on at the conference — investment, trade and tourism — my Department is most interested in all aspects of foreign direct investment. Inward investment, particularly by US companies, has been crucial to this country's economic success in recent years. My Department will be co-ordinating the contributions of the industrial development agencies to the conference. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, the conference has a much wider remit. In this regard the Department of Foreign Affairs is co-ordinating the Irish Government's input into the conference and is in regular contact with the relevant offices in the USA and Northern Ireland.