Vol. 430 No. 4
11 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total cost of ministerial representation abroad for the St. Patrick's Day period; and whether any cost benefit analysis has, or will be done, to assess the investment, trade and tourism benefits arising from this representation.
The Taoiseach provided to the House on 9 March 1993 a schedule listing the St. Patrick's Day functions abroad attended by Cabinet members and Ministers of State.
The cost of attendance abroad by Cabinet members and Ministers of State is charged to the votes of individual Departments concerned. The Tánaiste did not travel outside Ireland for St. Patrick's Day events this year.
The St. Patrick's Day period is a time when there is a traditional focus on the Irish links or Irish heritage of various countries or communities around the world. Many of these areas are of very considerable political or economic interest to this country. Government representatives at St. Patrick's Day celebrations very properly seek to avail of these opportunities, and of the extensive media interest in Ireland in this period, to promote Irish trade, investment, tourism and other interests and a better understanding of Government policy in relation to Northern Ireland.
It would be widely accepted that such representation is beneficial to Irish interests and it is appreciated by people of Irish origin overseas even though no formal cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken to assess investment, trade and tourism benefits. It is not proposed to commission such an analysis.
I may add that the practice of the present Government in regard to representation abroad by Cabinet members and Ministers of State does not differ from the practice of previous Governments over a considerable number of years.
Will the Minister of State agree that it would be more apt if members of the Government attended St. Patrick's Day parades in this jurisdiction, particularly in west Limerick where a more representative view of the Irish political consensus should be heard from reviewing stands?
On St. Patrick's Day I took part in a charity football match with the Bosnian refugees which proved to be very fruitful.
Who won?
I think the so-called celebrities just managed to win. The list of celebrities would make interesting reading.
