Ministerial Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2014

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Questions (653)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

653. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and the Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48040/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I am currently looking at my diary for next year in relation to official foreign travel. As soon as any official foreign travel has been confirmed I will post the information on my Department's website.

Minister Ring currently has no overseas travel arrangements made between now and the end of 2015.

Minister Phelan has no overseas trips scheduled in 2015, as of now.

The Deputy will appreciate that such travel can be for a range of reasons.  For example, Ministers attend EU Council meetings which are primarily about EU business.  In the case of Minister Ring and myself, we also engage in a series of overseas missions to promote tourism to Ireland during the year which I believe to be just as important as promoting foreign direct investment.