Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2007
137 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount that has been spent on travel expenses for Ministers regarding the international celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the importance of promoting Irish goodwill. [10513/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraSt Patrick's Day provides a truly unique framework in which to showcase Ireland on the world stage. The goodwill and attention associated with the festival offers an unrivalled opportunity to promote modern Ireland overseas.
St Patrick's Day also offers unique marketing opportunities to highlight to a global audience the advantages of doing business in Ireland. It offers a chance to promote Ireland as a world class tourist destination. These opportunities were fully exploited in the course of Ministerial travel overseas for St Patrick's Day. Visits this year were also used to highlight the threat of global warming and the urgency of acting together to meet this challenge.
St Patrick's Day and related events also provide a focus for the Irish diaspora and an opportunity to strengthen links with Irish communities around the world. In this regard, this year's programme provided a valuable and timely opportunity for the Taoiseach and myself to highlight the high priority that the Government attaches to the welfare of the Irish undocumented and to discuss their situation with key decision makers in Washington, including the President, the Speaker, the Democratic and Republican Senate leadership, Senators Kennedy, Leahy and Clinton, and many Members of the House of Representatives.
Our national day also offered an important occasion for direct and detailed dialogue on Northern Ireland, and in particular the compelling political importance of the restoration of the institutions on 26 March, with the President of the United States and his Administration, and with key political leaders on Capitol Hill, including the Friends of Ireland Group in Congress.
Travel expenses are a matter for each individual Minister. In my case, as I returned from Washington only a few days ago, the information sought by the Deputy is not yet available.
