Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Official Engagements.

Jack Wall

Question:

622 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she or her Department will be supplying a brief to the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism in regard to her recent visit to Norway, as to the possibilities for tourism links and her or her Department officials' meetings with the tourism sector on her visit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8215/03]

Jack Wall

Question:

623 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the meetings she had with the tourism sector on her recent visit to Norway; the number of groups she met; if she met the Minister for Tourism; if she used the tourism brief given to her by the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8216/03]

Jack Wall

Question:

624 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she met or if officials of her Department met the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism prior to her departure regarding her recent visit to Norway; if she was given a brief in regard to tourism; if that briefing was used during her visit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8217/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 624, inclusive, together.

The purpose of the St. Patrick's Day visits abroad by Ministers is to avail of the opportunity that day brings to promote all aspects of Ireland, including Ireland as a tourist destination. Briefing material provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs for my visit to Norway included substantial information on tourism in Ireland and on the tourism links with Norway, which was supplied by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. I took the opportunity to address some of the issues in this material during my visit which included a major speaking engagement at the Irish Embassy in Oslo during which I referred to the new direct flight opening up from Oslo to Dublin.

I also met representatives of Tourism Ireland and the Norwegian Ministers of Environment and Social Affairs, during which we discussed policy areas of mutual interest. I will discuss the outcome of my visit to Norway, including issues that arose with regard to tourism, with my Cabinet colleagues.