Billy Timmins
Ceist:352 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his travel plans for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7360/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 February 2010
Ceisteanna (296)
Freagraí scríofa
I am committed to undertaking a number of foreign trips in 2010. Earlier this month I visited London, and had the opportunity to meet with the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband and with the Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague. We had substantive discussions on a wide range of foreign policy matters of mutual interest including Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East Peace Process and EU issues post-Lisbon and post-Copenhagen. We also discussed the developments which were taking place in Northern Ireland in relation to the devolution of policing and justice powers.
During my visit, I launched the Global Irish Network at the Embassy of Ireland, an important initiative which arose out of the Global Economic Forum at Farmleigh last September. I also had the opportunity to address the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) and I met with a number of leading client companies of our State Agencies. While in London, I also met with members of our Irish community including the Southwark Irish Pensioners Project.
I travelled to Paris last week for a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner. We discussed current EU priority issues, including implementation of Lisbon Treaty, the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference, matters relating to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the follow-up to the informal European Council of 11 February. We also discussed current international issues, including Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti and the Middle East Peace Process.
I plan to attend the next meetings of the General Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 22 February and, as is usual, will continue to attend Council meetings on a monthly basis throughout 2010.
I intend to travel to Cordoba in Spain on 5 March, for the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to be hosted by the Spanish Presidency. It is expected that a further meeting in this format will be held during the Belgian Presidency, most likely in September.
While visiting Ireland last November, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, extended an invitation to me to attend and address the High-Level segment of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva in early March. I have accepted her invitation and during this visit, I also plan to address the UN Conference on Disarmament, to meet with the Heads of the main UN agencies and international organisations in Geneva and with Irish UN officials and members of civil society organisations.
I will accompany the Taoiseach on his visit to Washington D.C. in March to participate in the annual St. Patrick's Day Programme. The celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the US and across the world offers an unparalleled opportunity to send out a positive message about Ireland and to inform political and business leaders, trading and investment partners and the international media about recent developments in Ireland and how we are tackling our current economic challenges. The large Irish community in the US, and the development of the special relationship between Ireland and US resulting from this, is a very important part of the St Patrick's Day celebration. Building on the Global Irish Economic Forum, the St Patrick's Day visit to the US will offer the opportunity to further engage the interest and support of the Irish Diaspora to ensure that its valuable experience and expertise is harnessed to maximum effect.
I also plan to attend the opening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York in early May. Nuclear disarmament has been a policy priority for successive Irish Governments, and the NPT is the key international mechanism for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons.
As is customary, I am also due to travel to New York in late September to attend the Ministerial week which marks the start of the new UN General Assembly session. The primary purpose of my visit will be to deliver Ireland's national statement to the General Assembly and also to undertake a series of bilateral meetings with senior UN officials and other Foreign Ministers.
Deputies will be aware of my unfulfilled plans late last year to visit Gaza. It is still my wish to visit Gaza at the earliest opportunity and the issue is being actively considered within my Department. The primary purpose of any visit I may undertake would be to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground and the impact and effectiveness of the substantial assistance provided by Irish Aid to Gaza, principally through UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency).
A number of other visits are currently under consideration, including visits to a number of EU member states to meet my opposite numbers, but no final decisions have yet been taken.