Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:1 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the Ministers and Ministers of State who will be overseas for St. Patrick's Day; and their respective locations.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Patrick's Day Commitments.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:2 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he intends to participate in any St. Patrick's Day parades during his visit to the United States; the policy if any, regarding participation in such parades in view of the public controversy surrounding a number of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the schedule of St. Patrick's Day commitments for his Ministers and himself; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. I am arranging to have a schedule circulated in the Official Report which sets out the arrangements for ministerial commitments for the St. Patrick's Day period. I will not be participating in any St. Patrick's Day parades during my forthcoming visit to the United States. I will, however, be undertaking a full programme of other engagements on St. Patrick's Day including, as indicated in reply to parliamentary questions on 2 March, a meeting with President Clinton. I will also be attending the second meeting of the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board, meeting Mr. Thomas Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and attending a function on Capitol Hill organised by the Friends of Ireland in Congress which will afford an opportunity for discussion with leading figures in both Houses of the US Congress.
Ministers fully understand that St. Patrick's Day parades have a particular significance for Irish people and people of Irish descent. Such occasions provide an opportunity for Ministers going abroad to promote Ireland as an attractive and profitable location for investment, for trade and for tourism. It is on that basis that successive Governments have been represented at St. Patrick's Day parades over the years.
Ministerial Commitments for St. Patrick's Day Period
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1. Members of Government: |
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Taoiseach— |
Los Angeles (11-15 March) and |
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Washington (15-18 March) |
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Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs |
Tralee |
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Minister for Finance |
New York (16-18 March) |
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Minister for Social Welfare |
Boston (12-19 March) |
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Minister for Justice |
Sydney (12-15 March) |
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Melbourne (16 March) and |
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Canberra (17 March) |
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Minister for Enterprise and Employment |
IDA Programme in |
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San Francisco (13-16 March) |
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Seattle (16-17 March) and |
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Phoenix (17-18 March) |
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Minister for the Environment |
Moscow (13-18 March) |
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Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine |
Visiting Irish Troops with UN Missions in Middle East |
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Cyprus (14-16 March) and (23-24 March) |
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Lebanon (16-19 March) and |
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Syria (20-22 March) |
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Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry |
EC Council of Ministers Meeting |
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Brussels (16-17 March) |
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Minister for Tourism and Trade |
St. Patrick's Day function in London on |
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13 March and ABT/Board Fáilte Programmes |
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London (15 March) |
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Oxford (16 March) and |
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Cheltenham (17-18 March) |
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Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications |
Birmingham (17 March) |
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Minister for Equality and Law Reform |
Dublin |
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Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht |
Toronto (13-19 March) |
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Minister for Health |
Chicago (15-19 March) |
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Minister for Education |
Dublin |
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2. Attorney General |
London (13-16 March) |
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3. Ministers of State at Departments of: |
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Taoiseach, Defence and Finance (OPW) |
Trim |
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Enterprise and Employment (Labour Affairs) |
Athlone |
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Enterprise and Employment (Commerce and Technology) |
St. Louis (11-17 March) |
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IDA Programme (15-16 March) |
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Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht) |
None |
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Taoiseach and Transport, Energy and Communications (Energy) |
Ballinasloe |
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Education (Youth and Sport) |
None |
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Agriculture, Forestry and Food (Forestry and Rural Development) |
Portlaoise |
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Justice and Health |
Limerick |
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the Environment (Environmental Protection) |
Wexford |
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Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs (European Affairs and ODA) |
Dublin |
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the Environment (Housing and Urban Renewal) |
Maynooth |
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the Marine (Port Development, Safety and Inland Waterways) |
Cork |
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Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Food and Horticulture) |
Waterford |
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Finance (National Development Plan) |
Dublin |
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Social Welfare (Poverty) |
Dublin |
We must have a major representation by Ministers and Ministers of State abroad if the information has to be given to the Dáil by way of a schedule rather than giving us the details. Will the Taoiseach give the House an idea of the cost of sending his team of Ministers abroad for St. Patrick's Day? Will he outline the central purpose of these visits? Will the Ministers, and Ministers of State, be presenting in discussions in the United States and elsewhere a coherent line on Northern Ireland policy and what will be that line?
Answers such as those required to these questions are usually given by way of a schedule. I have answered the second part of the Deputy's question — going abroad provides Ministers with the opportunity to promote Ireland as an attractive and profitable location for investment, trade and tourism. That should be very clear. It has always been the practice of Governments down the years to avail of the opportunity at St. Patrick's Day for Ministers to go abroad in response to the many requests from all parts of the world for ministerial presence at St. Patrick's Day parades. There is no question but that a very coherent policy in relation to the Government's position on Northern Ireland is in existence.
The Taoiseach indicated he would not be participating in any parade, specifically the New York parade. Will he indicate if any Minister, or Minister of State, will be participating in the New York AOH parade and if the Government will make their views known to the AOH with regard to the exclusion from participation in that parade they are seeking to apply to Irish gay people in New York?
The Deputy is bringing in extraneous matter.
I have said I will not be participating in any parade and that includes the New York parade. The Minister for Finance will attend the New York parade on behalf of the Government. The question of participants in the parade is, as always, a matter for the organisation who has a licence to run the parade.
May I ask the Taoiseach what view he will convey to President Clinton as to Ireland's attitude to the draft agreement in the world trade talks? Will he indicate total opposition or acceptance of that agreement?
That is a separate question.
It is a separate question. However, I will be indicating to the President the views of the Irish Government in relation to the GATT talks, that we want to see an early settlement to these talks that is acceptable, agreeable and equitable to all participants.
While not wishing to appear too penny-pinching I would like to raise with the Taoiseach the part of my supplementary question to which he did not reply. Has the Taoiseach any idea as to the approximate cost of representation abroad on St. Patrick's Day? It is only by having such information we can assess whether it is cost effective, if he has not this information is the House to take it that he has authorised all these visits abroad without any consideration of cost?
I am following what has been the practice of successive Governments for many years in relation to ministerial presence at a number of parades throughout the world. We cannot be represented at all parades but we consider those that are most strategic, and everybody has accepted that the exercise is well worthwhile. I am sure the Deputy had no reservations, in his time in Government, about his colleagues going abroad to participate in St. Patrick's Day parades.
(Interruptions.)
Accepting what the Taoiseach said with regard to the organisers of the New York parade, that they are entitled to have on the parade or to exclude from the parade whom they choose, as was decided by the United States courts, could the Taoiseach also indicate to the House that the Irish Government has a choice as to what parades they will attend, and is the Taoiseach not delivering the wrong signal with regard to the civil rights of individuals, particularly those of Irish descent, with regard to their sexual orientation?
The Deputy is raising a specific matter worthy of a separate question altogether.
I am raising this question——
This is an entirely separate matter.
——as the question clearly relates to the controversial New York parade.
I respectfully suggest that the Deputy put down a question on that matter.
I am asking a specific question.
I am saying it is worthy of a separate question, Deputy.
It is not.
I decide these matters Deputy.
Will the Chair allow me to make the point that my question makes specifically? It is:
To ask the Taoiseach if he intends to participate in any St. Patrick's Day parades during his visit to the United States; the policy if any, regarding participation in such parades in view of the public controversy surrounding a number of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Taoiseach has made a statement.
That clearly enables me to put the question which I have put to the Taoiseach. Will the Taoiseach not decline Government participation in the New York parade in view of the discrimination being exercised against Irish people who are gay? It is a simple, straightforward question.
Deputy Martin Cullen has been offering for some time.
Will you allow the Taoiseach to answer?
If the Taoiseach wishes to intervene——
He does wish to intervene. He was offering to intervene. It is Question Time and presumably questions require answers.
We would all make more progress if we had specific questions tabled on specific matters. Deputy Cullen.
There is a very specific question, and I am looking for a specific reply.
The Deputy may not have liked my reply but I have answered the question already.
You did not answer the question.
I can add to it. Over the years the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York has been regarded as a very important function by successive Irish Governments. It is always desirable, in so far as is possible, that the Irish Government is represented at it. We are doing exactly that this year.
Regardless of discrimination? You are a disgrace.
Order. There is a number of Deputies offering. I want to facilitate them——
Could I ask——
——but I want order. Allow me to continue, Deputy. I must ask Deputies to be particularly brief. We must not get bogged down in the first three questions.
In the context of the Taoiseach's visit to the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States, will he and his Ministers take the opportunity to meet significant industrial leaders in the aftermath of the Digital Corporation decision to pull its manufacturing plant out of this country? Does the Taoiseach consider it important to re-establish us as a gateway to Europe——
This is worthy of a separate question.
——as a consequence of that decision? I am simply asking if either the Taoiseach or his Ministers will take an opportunity to meet industrial leaders?
Yes.
Will all Ministers travelling to North America and elsewhere who will be giving interviews on Northern Ireland be briefed in advance and will this briefing be provided by the Taoiseach's Department or the Tánaiste's Department?
I said in the House some days ago that Deputy Bruton was offered a briefing last week by the Tánaiste but declined it. If the Deputy wishes to have a briefing at any time in relation to the matter, he should feel free to seek it.
(Interruptions.)
That is not what I am asking about.
The Taoiseach does not know the answer.
Will the Taoiseach do himself a favour and listen to the question he is asked before giving an answer that is obviously lodged in his mind? Will the Ministers of the Government be briefed in advance about Northern Ireland before travelling to the US and elsewhere and, if so, will that briefing be provided by the Taoiseach's Department or the Tánaiste's Department?
That is a separate question. Members of the Government are always aware of Government policy in relation to any matter and do not need additional briefings going abroad.
Why the confusion?
They will add to the confusion while they are abroad.
Deputy O'Keeffe is confused anyway.
When in the United States, will the Taoiseach attend any fund-raising functions organised by the Friends of Fianna Fáil?
(Interruptions.)
In relation to the Taoiseach's statement that he will be promoting Ireland at meetings with various industrialists, can he say whether, as a result of his highly publicised meeting last September with 50 American industrialists, any job has been created?
They are separate questions, Deputy.
When in the United States will the Taoiseach be targeting American industries based here who may have the same kind of anxieties the Digital Corporation had when they were in the process of pulling out of Ireland?
That is a separate question, but from memory I can say that Sun Micra Systems who announced developments for Ireland in the last few days was one of the firms I saw on my last visit to the west coast of the US. Indeed, one of the senior management people from a firm on the east coast was in town on Monday to confirm that a $46 million investment will be going ahead in an existing plant here. They are just two examples off the top of my head.
What about the Friends of Fianna Fáil?
(Interruptions.)
Are there friends of Fine Gael the Deputies want me to do a function for or have you any left?
How many Ministers or Ministers of State will be abroad and will all of them be involved——
How many more times do I have to answer?
——in the promotion of this country as an industrial base?
The Deputy can take it that all Ministers going abroad to North America and elsewhere will be taking every opportunity they get, whether talking to possible potential investors in this country or by doing interviews on radio or television or for newspapers, to promote Ireland as a good location, a profitable location for investment, for trade and for tourism.
How many are going abroad?
Most of them will be abroad.
(Interruptions.)
Give us a figure?
(Interruptions.)
Please, Deputy Durkan. Question No. 4 please.
The Taoiseach refuses to answer the question.
(Interruptions.)
How many will be going abroad?
Will they be bringing their relations with them?
Are you afraid to answer the question?
We will not bother bringing the relations. We have relations out there.
You brought your driver last year.