Michael Ferris
Question:48 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to visit Irish bilateral aid programmes in Africa during 1998. [4303/98]
Written Answers - Ministerial Travel.
I plan to visit South Africa and Uganda next month. Other plans will be made as the need arises.
Irish Aid has important activities in both South Africa and Uganda. In South Africa, I plan to review Irish assistance to the process of transformation following the establishment of democracy.
My visit to Uganda will afford me an opportunity of reviewing our co-operation programme with one of the newer priority countries for Irish Aid bilateral assistance. This follows my visit last September to Zambia, which is one of the longerstanding priority countries for Irish bilateral assistance.
As I am sure the Deputy will agree, such visits are important as they help to highlight the partnership nature of our co-operation with the countries concerned and the fact that our assistance is intended to fit coherently into programmes that are designed and directed by the authorities of the countries concerned.
Charles Flanagan
Question:49 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will list his proposed official foreign engagements for the next six months. [4270/98]
The following is a list of engagements abroad that I envisage attending over the next six months:
|
23 February |
EU General Affairs Council, Brussels |
|
24-28 February |
Official visit to China (Beijing and HongKong) |
|
12 March |
European Conference on Enlargement, London |
|
13-14 March |
Informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, Edinburgh |
|
15-17 March |
St. Patrick's Day Reception, San Franscisco |
|
30-31 March |
EU General Affairs Council, Brussels |
|
31 March |
Official launch of the Process of Enlargement of the EU, Brussels |
|
2-4 April |
Second Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM2), London |
|
27 April |
EU General Affairs Council, Luxembourg |
|
1-3 May |
Special EMU Council, Brussels |
|
4-5 May |
Council of Europe Ministerial meeting, Strasbourg |
|
11-12 May |
WEU Council of Ministers meeting, Rhodes |
|
22 May |
Bilateral meeting with Italian Foreign Minister, Rome |
|
25-26 May |
EU General Affairs Council, Brussels |
|
8-9 June |
EU General Affairs Council, Luxembourg |
|
15-16 June |
European Council, Cardiff |
|
29-30 June |
EU General Affairs Council, Luxembourg |
|
13-14 July |
EU General Affairs Council, Brussels |