Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
19. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the costs associated with her most recent visit to New York; the meetings she attended over the three days; and if those meetings were related to her brief as Minister. [52442/18]
View answerI participated in events in my role as Minister of the Government and also as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
There were three speeches at the United Nations. First to mark a centenary of Irish women’s suffrage with the President of the General Assembly. Poet Eavan Boland and international representatives recited a poem during the celebrations.
I addressed the Security Council on “Cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations: the role of States, regional arrangements and the United Nations in the prevention and resolution of conflicts”.
Along with the Secretary General of the United Nations, I participated in a high-level Pledging Event on the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, reaffirming Ireland’s commitment with €10million annually for the next three years.
There were also bilateral meetings as part of our campaign to become a member of the Security Council.
In addition I met members of our diaspora who are survivors and relatives of survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes.
In a further meeting the Irish American artistic community discussed the role of the arts in truth telling, particularly in respect of our past.
I attended a meeting with Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor the Secretary General of the United Nations on the Sustainable Development Goals. This meeting was a follow-up to a workshop I hosted in Dublin on tackling child poverty.
There was a very welcome opportunity to address 100 young Irish people now living in New York. Many recently arrived and spoke of challenges they face. It was also reassuring to experience the support offered to them by our consulate in New York.
At present, the only cost paid is for the flights which comes to a total of €2291.12 for four people.
