I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 45 together.
I travelled to New York on 9 December 2001 to promote Ireland's largest international craft and gift fair, Showcase 2002, at the request of the Crafts Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. The purpose of the visit was to promote Showcase 2002 among North American buyers. I returned to Ireland the following day, 10 December.
In 2001, 550 North American buyers visited Showcase 2002. Following the foot and mouth disease crisis last year and the atrocities of 11 September in the US it was felt that an even greater effort than usual was required to promote attendance at Showcase 2002, as it was feared that fewer Americans would travel to visit or to buy from Ireland.