Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 2

Written Answers. - World Economic Forum.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

72 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the notice she received regarding the cancellation of the World Economic Forum meeting originally planned for Dublin in October 2003; when it became apparent that the forum's global competitiveness report was not going to be available until November 2003; the contact or representation her Department has with the secretariat of the forum; and the level of expenditure that had been incurred by her Department in preparations for the event. [24599/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

The World Economic Forum formally announced on 18 July 2003 that it had decided to postpone the competitiveness summit which was originally scheduled to take place in Dublin on 20 – 21 October 2003. It was at that stage that the WEF stated that the forum's global competitiveness report would not be available until November 2003.

Up to that date there had been a series of contacts between my Department and the secretariat of the World Economic Forum to discuss the format, agenda and logistics of the proposed competitiveness summit.

Minimal expenditure was incurred by my Department in preparation for the proposed summit. Expenditure arose principally in the context of the hospitality afforded to the forum secretariat during its planning visits to Dublin and also in the context of travel costs arising from a meeting in Geneva between officials of my Department and the World Economic Forum to discuss the proposed summit.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 37.

Question No. 74 answered with Question No. 53.

Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 25.