Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Ministerial Travel.

David Stanton

Question:

184 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 25 October 2000, the Ministers or Ministers of State who attended the various food fairs mentioned in his reply; the cost incurred by the State in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25191/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

It is widely accepted that international food fairs represent important buying platforms for the Irish food industry. For example, SIAL 2000 held recently in France, attracted buyers from 173 countries worldwide. Attendance by me or the Ministers of State at such key events lend support to the marketing efforts of Irish companies and further market access generally. Irish food exports now exceed £5 billion annually.

The following is the information sought by the Deputy:

Food Fair	Attended by Minister	Costs£
Anuga Food Fair, Cologne	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	2,427
Food Ingredients Exhibition, London	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	666
IFEX 98, Dublin	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	nil
SIAL, Paris	Walsh (and 3 officials)	3,554
CIBUS Food Fair, Parma	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	180
Food Ingredients Exhibition, Frankfurt	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	2,081
Berlin Green Week	Walsh (and 2 officials)	2,769
International Food Exhibition, London	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	646
Food Expo Cairo	Walsh (and 2 officials)	5,517
IFEX '99, Belfast	Davern (and 1 official)	41
WSWA Drinks Fair, New Orleans	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	6,983
Food Ingredients Europe, Paris	Davern (and 2 officials)	1,234
Fine Food Fair, London	O'Keeffe	508
Teheran International Fair	Walsh (and 3 officials)	10,547
Anuga, Cologne	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	2,062
Worldwide Food Exhibition, Chicago	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	4,944
Berlin Green Week	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	4,010
Food Expo Cairo	Walsh (and 3 officials)	7,278
CIBUS, Parma	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	2,076
IFEX, Dublin	O'Keeffe (and 1 official)	Nil
Fancy Food Fair New York	O'Keeffe (and 2 officials)	6,783

These costs cover the travel and subsistence expenses of Ministers and accompanying officials but do not include accommodation costs where these were borne by Bord Bia. A detailed breakdown of the accommodation costs paid by Bord Bia is not immediately available.