Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foreign Investment and Trade.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

146 Mr. Boylan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the impact on foreign investment and trade here arising out of the Government's participation in EXPO 2000. [23253/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt):

I would like to place my reply to this question within the overall context in which the Government decided in favour of Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000.

Consideration was given to the case for Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000 by the Foreign Earnings Committee, FEC. The FEC was of the view that participation at Hanover could not be justified on trade or investment promotion grounds but acknowledged that failure to participate, against a background of participation by all other EU member states, could be damaging to Ireland's overall relations with Germany. The decision to participate was therefore taken on broader foreign policy and cultural grounds.

The preliminary findings of the independent evaluators contracted to assess Ireland's partici pation would suggest that the impact on foreign investment or trade was indeed minimal. The evaluators do however believe that our participation is likely to have provided a return on taxpayers' funds, given the estimated tourism benefits, the national prestige/diplomatic issues and the other benefits in terms of the attraction of skills and the cultural issues. They are also of the view that the main focus of promoting Ireland as a tourist destination, with a secondary focus on skills attraction and food promotion, was appropriate.