Vol. 563 No. 4
523 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department will be supplying a brief to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in regard to his recent visit to Boston, as to possibilities for tourism links and his or his Department officials' meetings with the tourism sector on his visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8238/03]
524 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport the meetings he had with the tourism sector on his recent visit to Boston; the number of groups he met; if he met the Minister for Tourism; if he used the tourism brief given to him by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8239/03]
525 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he or officials from his Department met with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism prior to his departure regarding his recent visit to Boston; if he was given a brief in regard to tourism; if that briefing was used during his visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8240/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 to 525, inclusive, together.
I undertook a wide range of official functions on my recent visit to Boston for the St. Patrick's Day festivities and I enclose a copy of my programme for this visit. I was supplied with a brief in regard to tourism by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, prior to my departure. The fact that I received that briefing material negated the need for me or officials of my Department to meet with our counterparts in the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism.
I did refer to the themes contained in that brief and during my speaking engagements, and where appropriate to the audience I addressed, I highlighted the many positives features and benefits of modern Ireland. I also encouraged my audiences to consider Ireland as a tourist location but it will not be necessary for me to supply any formal briefing regarding tourism to my colleague the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism.
Visit of Minister for Transport, Deputy Seamus Brennan, to Boston St. Patricks Day 2003 programme
Friday 14 March:
Visit to Immigration Museum, Milk Street
Famine memorial commemoration ceremony, Downtown Crossing
SDLP function hosted by Tom O'Neill, GPC Associates, One Beacon Street
526 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport the meetings the Minister of State at his Department had with the tourism sector on his recent visit to Philadelphia; the number of groups he met; if he used the tourism brief given to him by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8241/03]
I represented the Government at the recent St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Philadelphia. My official engagements in Philadelphia were as follows:
Guest of honour at the Friendly Sons of St Patrick annual dinner.
St. Patrick's Day mass and parade.
Annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast of the mid-Atlantic chapter of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States. The main sponsor of this networking breakfast, which was attended by about 100 business people, was US Airways. which will start direct flights from Philadelphia to Dublin and Shannon later this year.
Luncheon hosted by Mr. Bill McLaughlin, President of ICCUSA, which was attended by representatives from the medical and travel/air transportation industries with a particular investment interest in Ireland.
Reception organised by the Irish Immigration and Pastoral Centre of Philadelphia.
I used every opportunity during the course of my visit to promote Ireland as a tourist destination and the tourism brief supplied by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was of considerable assistance in that regard. I availed of valuable opportunities presented to me to promote inward investment into Ireland.
