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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 2

Written Answers. - EU Presidency.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

122 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's plans to allow private sponsorship of events and meetings associated with the forthcoming Irish EU Presidency in 2004; and the reasons therefor. [21098/03]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

176 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of the sponsorship sought from commercial firms for Ireland's Presidency of the EU; the value of the sponsorship committed to date; the privileges or benefits which the commercial companies involved will receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/03]

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

178 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress of plans for Irish companies to provide sponsorship for Ireland's EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21144/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 176 and 178 together.

When Ireland takes over the Presidency of the European Union on 1 January, 2004, we will have the privilege to preside over the conclusion of the current enlargement process which will see ten new members join the Union on 1 May 2004.

During the Presidency, Ireland will chair meetings in Brussels, Luxembourg and throughout Ireland. During this time, Ireland will be responsible for directing the work of the EU and, with the European Commission, for representing the EU in its relations with third countries. We will therefore be at centre stage, both in Europe and in the wider international arena.

The Government is very conscious of the unique opportunity which the Presidency offers to showcase the positive and dynamic aspects of Ireland, in particular in the economic, trade and tourism areas. The Government also believes that the Presidency offers an invaluable opportunity for Irish business to promote what is best about Ireland. In keeping with its partnership approach, and to encourage wider ownership and participation in the Presidency, the Cabinet Committee on European Affairs has approved the principle of seeking sponsorship. Any sponsorship arrangement will also help to reduce the substantial costs of hosting the Presidency.

Sponsorship has been a feature of previous presidencies, most recently those of Denmark, Greece, Italy and, on a smaller scale, for Ireland's last Presidency in 1996. We have modelled our approach on that applied by the Danish Presidency by inviting offers of sponsorship for the Presidency from Irish companies. All sponsorship will be in the form of goods and services – no cash sponsorship will be considered.

The Cabinet committee is of the view that there are a number of high cost categories that are compatible with a sponsorship arrangement, such as transportation, catering costs, provision of IT/telecommunications equipment and gifts. Such arrangements have been adopted by previous presidencies. In this context, my Department contacted the various umbrella groups for business in Ireland, such as the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, the Irish Hotel Federation and the Society of the Irish Motor Industry to outline the sponsorship possibilities.

We are encouraged by the number of companies which have expressed interest in sponsorship, and negotiations with these parties are ongoing. No contractual commitments have been entered into at this time. Prior to entering into a contract, all offers for sponsorship will be presented to the interdepartmental Presidency planning group, which will decide on the appropriate sponsorship arrangements.

Where a sponsorship agreement is reached with an organisation for the entire Presidency, that organisation will be entitled to have its logo displayed on the Presidency website. On the basis of recent experience, Presidency websites have received a significant number of hits in the period immediately prior to and during the six months of the Presidency – the Danish Presidency website recorded a total of 1.3 million visitors averaging 8,000 per day, with 30,000 hits received on one day alone during the European Council meeting in December 2002. In addition, the organisation may also use the Presidency logo in its marketing for a period of one year from 1 January 2004.

Sponsors of the entire Presidency and sponsors for individual meetings may have their logo reproduced on material published for Presidency meetings and may also display marketing material at particular meeting venues as appropriate.

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