Bertie Ahern
Question:14 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to attend President Clinton's Investment Conference in May 1995, and to lead the Irish Government's delegation to it. [4930/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Investment Conference on Ireland.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:15 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Taoiseach if he will be attending the Washington Conference in May 1995. [5041/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will be leading the Government's delegation to the Investment Conference on Ireland which is to be held in Washington on 24-26 May next. This is in line with the wishes of the US organisers of the conference that governmental delegations should be led at less than Head of Government level, in order to avoid any possible shift away from the conference's economic focus to more political matters. I might add that, in the same spirit of respecting this preference, the British Government delegation will be led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland rather than the Prime Minister.
The Taoiseach is aware there was some confusion in reply to a written question some weeks ago when we understood the Taoiseach would attend the Washington Conference and it was stated that the Tánaiste would be leading the conference. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he will not attend the conference? In view of so many opportunities for industrialists and the country in the presence of President Clinton there would be a strong case for a Government delegation.
The Tánaiste is going to the conference and I think the Minister for Enterprise and Employment is going also. I understand that——
The Taoiseach could not be here but here is the brother.
He is much more persuasive than I am. It would not be appropriate for me to attend this conference which should, as far as possible, be a business conference.
The President of the United States will attend it.
The conference should not be dominated by State ceremony as it is mainly designed to enable 700-800 US firms to network with 300-400 delegates from this side who are engaged in business. I hope the conference will lead to investment and equity stakes being taken by American companies in Irish companies. It is very important that the Irish and American delegations are made up of people in a position to put business deals together, and not people looking for funding and grants. I would like to see an Irish delegation made up of people who want to find a partner with whom they can do business which is mutually beneficial and which will lead to job creation. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs who will attend the conference will underline the political support of the Government for this process and its appreciation of President Clinton's initiative in putting it in place. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, who has a functional responsibility in this area, will also be present.
Having discussed the matter with Mr. Mitchell, I agree it should be a business conference. However, the best way of maximising the benefit to Ireland is for the Taoiseach to attend. If the President of the United States can give of his time to attend the conference then the Taoiseach should also give of his time to attend it.
In fairness, this is the President's conference; he is the person who called it.
For Ireland's benefit.
It is appropriate for him to be there.
The Taoiseach should also attend it.
The US authorities hosting the conference said that the delegation should be led at less than head of Government level; in other words, they have indicated — and I agree with them — that I should not attend and there should not be an emphasis on high level political statecraft.
The Tánaiste is very political.
They have said that the emphasis should be more on contacts between businesses in the United States and Ireland, particularly those in the North, and I agreed with that view.
What is the Taoiseach's view?
That is the line I am adopting.
Does the Taoiseach appreciate the importance of the Washington conference? Given that the President of the United States will attend this conference, does he not think it appropriate that he should also attend it? He should adopt his own line on this issue instead of being influenced by the delegation being sent by the British Government.
The Deputy did not listen to my reply.
Given that it is a business conference, the Taoiseach should attend. I have no objection to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Enterprise and Employment attending it.
I will explain the position in words of one syllable. The US authorities who are running the conference——
Do not want the Taoiseach.
——have said that they do not want heads of Government.
Does the Taoiseach want to attend?
They want a conference with an emphasis on business and not on politics.
The Taoiseach will present the shamrock and someone else will get the investment.
The Taoiseach without interruption, please.
As they are hosting the conference and paying for it their wishes should be respected. I agree that the delegation should not be led by the head of Government.
There is a difference between humility and humiliation.
This process would not benefit from political grandstanding and "shamrockery".
Humility is cheap.
The Taoiseach without interruption, please.
This is a business conference designed to promote business between US and Irish businesses and it would not be appropriate for me to push myself into it when the hosts have indicated they do not want either John Major or I. I agree with their views.
If they state they want the Taoiseach to go——
That concludes questions to the Taoiseach.
May I ask a brief question?
I am proceeding to deal with Priority Questions to the Minister for the Environment.