John Bruton
Question:19 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting in Ireland with the Premier of Newfoundland, Mr. Brian Tobin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10833/99]
Vol. 504 No. 2
19 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting in Ireland with the Premier of Newfoundland, Mr. Brian Tobin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10833/99]
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Brian Tobin and Mrs. Tobin, visited Ireland the week before last. The main purpose of the Premier's visit was to lead a business mission to Ireland. He was accompanied by his Ministers for Industry, Trade and Technology and Justice and Finance.
The business mission took place pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the Government of Ireland and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1996. This MoU was concluded during the period of office of the administration headed by Deputy Bruton, in recognition of the fact that this province of Canada has the highest proportion of people of Irish descent of any area of settlement world-wide, and because of the commonalties and the potential for mutual benefit for the two participants.
The mission was organised by Ireland Business Partnerships which were set up in Newfoundland by Premier Tobin to implement the Memorandum of Understanding. It was done in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs – with considerable input from Enterprise Ireland. The mission, which also involved the St. John's Board of Trade, included a wide range of companies with a particular focus on information technology, environmental technologies, tourism and film-making. Pre-matching of companies had taken place so that each company had a tailored itinerary of focused meetings in pre-identified areas, in numerous locations around the country, including Galway, Waterford, Cork and of course Dublin.
I hosted breakfast for the Premier and senior members of his delegation on Monday 19 April. I reiterated to them the commitment I gave when I took office in 1997 to continue to progress the objectives of the MoU.