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Ministerial Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Questions (65)

Seán Crowe

Question:

65. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline any benefit to his Department he has taken from his recent trip to Japan. [15052/13]

View answer

Written answers

My trip to Japan and South Korea was part of the Government's St Patricks Day "Promote Ireland" programme and included a schedule covering the Irish community abroad, the Gathering 2013 and the promoting of investment in Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day is a unique opportunity to promote Ireland abroad. Few, if any, other countries have a national day which is so widely known and celebrated across the entire globe. As a country we should maximise the value we get from such global attention and goodwill.  The purpose of these visits is threefold:

 Firstly, to promote Irish economic and cultural links overseas.

Secondly, to use the opportunity of St Patrick's Day to strengthen our bi-lateral relationship with other states.

Thirdly, to connect with our diaspora overseas as well as those individuals with a strong connection or affinity with Ireland.

With regard to bi-lateral relations, I met with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Patriots and Veterans Affairs  in Korea.  While in Japan, I met with the Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. I also had the privilege in Japan of attending a meeting of the Japan Ireland Parliamentary Friendship League in their parliament. These meetings gave me an opportunity to discuss matters relating to matters of mutual interest between our two countries and also to promote key Irish interests in Korea and Japan.

In relation to the promotion of Irish economic and cultural interests, I undertook a number of events with the Enterprise Ireland and the IDA offices in Korea and Japan, meeting with IDA client companies with investments in Ireland or those considering an investment. I also met with Enterprise Ireland clients exporting into these economies, as well as meeting with a variety of tourism trade interests in Japan.

With regard to Korea, I was pleased to be able to attend our National Day event in Seoul, as well as to meet separately with members of the Irish community in Korea and members of the Global Irish Network. In Japan, I attended the National Day events in Tokyo and Osaka, and participated in the St Patrick's Day Parades in Yokohama and Tokyo. These events gave me an opportunity to express my Government's support for our links with the diaspora, as well as to learn as to how we can better improve our relationship with Japan and Korea. In relation to matters specifically under my Department's remit, I used the opportunity of engagements with our diaspora and those with a connection to Ireland to promote Irish tourism, particularly in this, the year of the Gathering, as well as holding a briefing for the tourism trade and media in Japan. Furthermore, I held meetings with Ministerial colleagues who cover areas relating to transport, tourism and sport in order to develop co-operation in a variety of areas of mutual interest. Finally, as part of my promotion of Irish economic interests, I also had meetings with companies that produce rolling stock for Irish Rail and arrange finance for transport companies.

Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 18.
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