Vol. 545 No. 3
62 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of foreign trips he has taken since assuming office; the trips on which he was accompanied by persons (details supplied) whose journeys were paid in part or in full from State funds; and the number of these persons residing or having business interests in Counties Mayo or Galway. [30358/01]
64 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason for his recent trip to Chile with the chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and a person (details supplied); the cost of the trip including travel and accommodation; the source of funding for the trip; the dates upon which the trip was proposed and subsequently confirmed in the diary; the portion of the travel and accommodation costs paid by the person on the trip; if he will provide a copy of the itinerary of the trip; and if he will provide a copy of a report on the trip's activities. [30360/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 64 together.
On my recent visit to Chile I was accompanied by my Secretary General, a senior official of my Department, my private secretary, the chairman and chief executive of BIM and an Irish salmon farmer. The purpose of the trip was to gain a deeper understanding of the Chilean salmon industry, in particular, those factors which have enabled very significant growth in their industry in recent years. I also met my Ministerial counterpart to convey the considerable concerns of the Irish industry about the impact on the Irish salmon industry of significant and increasing quantities of Chilean salmon production on the global market.
The trip had been under consideration for some months in informal discussion with the chairman of BIM and was confirmed on 7 November with travel arrangements being finalised over the following week.
The trip was funded by BIM who met costs in respect of travel and accommodation for myself, Department officials and BIM representatives. In relation to the fish farmer, I am informed by BIM that it met 40% of the travel costs incurred by him with 60% being recouped directly from the individual concerned and that a similar arrangement applied to a fisherman who participated in a visit to Brazil. A copy of the itinerary of the Chilean visit is included for the Deputy's information. A copy of a report of the trip will be provided in due course.
|
18.55 |
Depart Dublin |
|
10.15 |
Arrive Santiago |
|
13:55 |
Depart Santiago |
|
15:35 |
Arrive Puerto Montt |
|
19.30 |
Dinner with Project Manager, Aquabusiness; General Manager, Patagonia Salmon Farming; Technical Manager, Intesal |
|
09.00 |
Visit to freshwater smolt production facilities at Copihue |
|
12.00 |
Visit to Marine Harvest Processing plant |
|
13.00 |
Lunch with Sales Director & Freshwater Production Manager, Marine Harvest |
|
15:00 |
Visit to lake cage rearing facilities of Marine Harvest |
|
to |
Visit to Eicosal Processing Plant |
|
19.00 |
Visit to Patagonia Salmon Processing Plant, sea farm facilities and wellboats wharf |
|
19:30 |
Dinner with salmon industry contacts |
|
09.00 |
Visit to Multiexport's salmon processing plant, Puerto Montt |
|
11.00 |
Visit to Multiexport'sea raised trout farming and salmon farming facilities |
|
14.00 |
Visit to Fundacion Chile R & D hake hatchery and grow out facilities |
|
15.00 |
Visit to Fjords Seafoods Fresh Water hatchery |
|
19.30 |
Depart Puerto Montt |
|
08.30 |
Visit to Pesquera Camanchaca Ltd's fish processing facilities, Concepcion |
|
15:30 |
Ministerial Meeting with Chilean Minister for Fisheries, Mr Felipe Sandoval Precht, accompanied by Departmental officials and Irish Ambassador to Argentina at Offices of the Minister, Santiago |
|
17.00 |
BIM meeting with Sales Manager of Pesquera Camanchaca, Santiago |
|
19.00 |
Review meeting |
|
20.00 |
Dinner with Irish Honorary Consul to Chile and Irish Ambassador to Argentina |
|
23.45 |
Depart Chile |
|
17.40 |
Arrive Paris |
|
18.50 |
Depart Paris |
|
19.45 |
Arrive Dublin |
