Question:
138 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his visit to Washington on 6 October 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19506/98]
Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
The primary purpose of my visit to Washington was to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The meetings focused on the world economic outlook, the need to strengthen the architecture of the international monetary system, the response of the international community to the international financial crisis, the liquidity position of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, progress under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) Debt Initiative, Bank/Fund Collaboration and the funding of the HIPCs initiative and the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility of the IMF.
The communiqués issued by the Interim Committee of the IMF and the Development Committee, a joint committee of the IMF and the bank, set out the progress achieved under these and a number of other headings. I have placed copies of the communiqués in the Library for the information of Deputies and Senators.