Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1 - 41

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (19, 21, 22, 23)

Joan Burton

Question:

19. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to Canada on 3 May 2017. [21949/17]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

21. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister and events on his trip to Canada. [22089/17]

Micheál Martin

Question:

22. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to Canada and his meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister; if CETA was discussed; and the other meetings that he attended and the issues that were discussed. [22095/17]

Eamon Ryan

Question:

23. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent trip to Canada and any discussions that took place regarding CETA. [22107/17]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 21 to 23, inclusive, together.

I travelled to Canada between the 3-6 May. This was the first visit to Canada by a serving Taoiseach in more than a decade, and provided an opportunity to develop and strengthen the important bilateral relationship between our two nations, who share deep historic ties, and enjoy strong trading relations. Over the centuries, Canada has been an important destination for Irish immigrants. Today, over four and a half million Canadians - more than 14% of the country's population - claim Irish ancestry.

During my visit I had a series of engagements with political, business and civic society representatives in Montreal and Toronto, and met with a number of existing and potential new IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies. These engagements provided very useful opportunities for me to promote Ireland as a location for trade and investment, as well as to emphasise our commitment to the EU and to outline Ireland's priorities in the context of Brexit.

While in Montreal, I met with Prime Minister Trudeau. We discussed the trade relationship between Ireland and Canada and Ireland's strengths as a location for trade and investment. We also considered ways to further strengthen the economic and trade relationship between our two countries, and agreed to prioritise the opportunities offered by the CETA trade agreement. I also updated the Prime Minister on Ireland's Brexit priorities and outlined to him the current position in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister reiterated to me the Canadian Government's continued support for the Northern Ireland peace process.

Also in Montreal, I attended a business lunch with senior members of the Montreal business community, where I met with potential and current investors in Ireland. I also visited the School of Irish studies at Concordia University where I met with members of the Irish Diaspora.

In Toronto, I addressed an Enterprise Ireland event, and also an event hosted by the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce, both of which provided me opportunities to meet with current and potential investors in Ireland. I addressed a Tourism Ireland event and visited Ireland Park, the Irish Famine memorial park in Toronto. I also paid a courtesy call on the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell. My Programme concluded with a meeting with members of the Board of the Irish Canada Immigration Centre and other representatives of the Irish Diaspora, and an event with representatives of the Ireland Fund in Canada.

This was a very successful visit which I believe will provide a platform to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Ireland and Canada - and I expect will be further enhanced during the trade mission to Canada that will be led by Minister Mitchell O'Connor later this month (30 May to 02 June).

Question No. 20 resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 21 to 23, inclusive, answered with Question No. 19.

Question No. 24 resubmitted.

Ministerial Advisers Appointments

Questions (25)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

25. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to appoint new special advisers generally or in the area of economics or Brexit. [22090/17]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I have no plans to appoint new Special Advisers.

Seanad Reform

Questions (26)

Micheál Martin

Question:

26. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the group being formed to reform Seanad Éireann as agreed in 2016. [22098/17]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

As the Deputy will be aware, in the Programme for a Partnership Government the Government stated its intention to reform Seanad Éireann and committed to pursuing implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform (the Manning Report).

That Report was published in 2015 and it is available on my Department's website.

One of the recommendations of the Report was the establishment of an Implementation Group to oversee implementation of the reforms contained in the Report.

As I have previously said in the House, I agreed with a suggestion made here some time ago by the Deputy that this Group should be based in the Oireachtas and should comprise members of the Dáil and Seanad from all parties and groups, with access to independent expert advice as required. I wrote to Party Leaders in September last year seeking their agreement to this approach and their intention to participate. Contacts are continuing with parties to finalise nominations with a view to having the Group up and running as soon as possible.

Questions Nos. 27 to 30, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 31 to 41, inclusive, answered orally.