Vol. 563 No. 4
495 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the meetings the Minister of State at his Department had with the tourism sector on his recent visit to Manchester and Birmingham; the number of groups he met; if he used the tourism brief given to him by the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8228/03]
My ministerial visit abroad for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations included visits to both Manchester and Birmingham. The following is a list of the groups I met:
Manchester: Lord Mayor and city councillors, Council of Irish Associations at the Irish World Heritage Centre and representatives at the Tourism Ireland exhibition at the Trafford Centre.
Birmingham: Representatives of Focus Housing and Irish Welfare and Information Centre, the Lord Mayor, the leader of Birmingham City Council, personnel associated with the marketing of Birmingham City, Ms Cherie Blair, wife of the Prime Minister, and a number of British sporting officials. At all occasions, I shared interests and ideas on numerous issues of mutual interest with an emphasis on tourism in Ireland, health and older people.
496 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the meetings the Minister of State at his Department had with the tourism sector on his recent visit to Cyprus; the number of groups he met; if he used the tourism brief given to him by the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/03]
The engagements I undertook during my recent visit to Cyprus are outlined as follows. At these functions I met a number of people, including local dignitaries, ambassadors and those involved in the tourism sector, with whom, inter alia, the development of tourism was discussed.
15 March, 2003:
St. Patrick's Day dinner, hosted by Cyprus Irish Society;
16 March, 2003:
St. Patrick's Day dinner, hosted by Cyprus Irish Society, Paphos Branch;
17 March, 2003:
St. Patrick's Day ecumenical service, UNPA, Nicosia; Official St. Patrick's Day reception hosted by Irish Embassy, Nicosia residence;
St. Patrick's Day reception hosted by UNCIVPOL UNPA, Nicosia;
Cyprus Irish Society, Limassol Branch, St. Patrick's Day celebration;
18 March, 2003:
Met Cypriot Minister for Health.
