Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
236 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost in relation to foreign travel, accommodation and related ministerial and official costs associated with St. Patrick’s day 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12818/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI did not travel abroad in an official capacity for Saint Patrick's Day 2010.
Minister of State Martin Mansergh visited the Netherlands and Belgium from Monday 15th March and returned Thursday morning 18th March. He was accompanied by his Private Secretary for the duration of the trip and by the Office of Public Works' Chief Engineer for his visit to the Netherlands. All costs have not been received as yet as some were dealt with directly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and will be invoiced in due course. When all costs have been itemised, a reply will issue to the deputy. The itinerary for Minister Mansergh's trip is set out as follows.
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Monday 15th |
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09.45 |
Depart Dublin Airport on Aer Lingus flight EI 604 |
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12.20 |
Arrive Amsterdam Schiphol Greeted by Ambassador Whelan and Embassy staff |
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13.00 |
Depart Schiphol for The Hague |
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14.00 |
Arrive The Hague |
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15.45 |
Meeting with Secretary General and Senior Officials, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management1. Plesmanweg 1-6, 2597 JG The Hague |
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17.00 |
Depart for Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel. Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012EX Amsterdam |
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18.00 |
Arrive Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel. Check in |
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18.35 |
Depart Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel for Rijksmuseum |
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18.55 |
Arrive Rijksmuseum. Tourism Ireland Press Reception2, Rijksmuseum, Stadhouderskade 42, 1071 ZD Amsterdam |
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20.15 |
Depart Rijksmuseum for Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen |
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20.30 |
Arrive Restaurant. Dinner with Committee Members, Irish Club of the Netherlands. Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen, Spuisstraat 294-302, 1012VX Amsterdam |
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22.00 |
Dinner concludes. Return to Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel. Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012EX Amsterdam |
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Tuesday 16th |
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10.35 |
Depart Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel for Amstel Hotel |
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11.00 – 14.30 |
Bord Bia / Chef’s Irish Beef Club (CIBC) Event: A Celebration of Irish Food and Drink, Amstel Hotel, Professor Tulpplein 1, 1018 GX Amsterdam. |
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Running order of event: |
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11:00 |
Arrival guests, reception with coffee, tea and biscuits |
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11.15 |
Welcome by Declan Fennell, Bord Bia, and brief introduction on the development of the sale of Irish products in the Netherlands, the importance of Irish beef, cooperation CIBC, recipe magazine Mooi & Mals. Followed by remarks by Minister Mansergh |
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11.30 |
Tasting Irish drinks led by Mr. Rohan Gillespie |
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12.45 |
Lunch in Restaurant ‘La Rive’ prepared by Roger Rassin, new CIBC member. After the 2nd course Roger Rassin will be inaugurated |
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14.30 |
Depart Amstel Hotel for Dutch Association of Regional Water Authorities |
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15.30 |
Meeting with Director of Dutch Association of Regional Water Authorities3 Koningskade 40, 2596 AA The Hague |
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16.30 |
Depart Dutch Association of Regional Water Authorities for Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel |
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17.45 |
Arrive Hotel |
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18.30 –19.00 |
Interview with journalist from De Volkskrant, and 2 other journalists, Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel. |
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19.15 |
Ireland Netherlands Business Association Spring Dinner4 (Minister Mansergh is Guest of Honour and Speaker) Venue: Council Chamber, Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012EX Amsterdam |
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22.30 |
Dinner concludes |
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Wednesday 17th |
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07.30 |
Depart Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand Hotel for Amsterdam Centraal Station |
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07.45 |
Arrive Amsterdam Centraal |
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08.11 |
“Sneltrein” to Den Haag Centraal Station (Den Haag CS) departs from platform 13a |
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09.02 |
Arrive Den Haag Centraal Station Greeted by Embassy Transfer to House of Representatives, The Hague |
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09.15 |
Meeting with Chairperson of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Public Works and Water Management Bezuidenhoutseweg 73, 2594 AC The Hague |
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10.00 |
Meeting concludes Possible visit to Mauritshuis Art Gallery |
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11.35 |
Depart Den Haag Hollands Spoor Station for Brussel Centraal Station Note: train journey is 2h 03m Fare: €30.00 per person 2nd class €46.40 per person 1st class (includes power plug for laptop) (Fares per NS Rail service web-page) |
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13.38 |
Arrive Brussel Centraal Greeted by Ambassador Nason or Niall Brady, Embassy, Brussels Transfer to Sofitel, 3 Place Jourdan, 1040 Brussels (freshen up) |
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14.50 |
Transfer to Jacques Delors Building 99 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels — Remarks at the Research to Reality workshop — Opportunity to view “Diversity in Unity” exhibition by Irish artists — Tour state agency presentations, meet state agency representatives |
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16.30 |
Transfer to Charlemagne Building 170 Rue de la Loi, 1049 Brussels Greeted by Secretary General of the European Economic and Social Committee, Mr Martin Westlake & Ms Jillian Van Tournhout Freshen up opportunity (VIP room near entrance to building) Then escorted to plenary chamber |
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17:00 |
Plenary session begins — welcoming remarks by President Sepi — address by Minister Mansergh (10 minutes) — responses from representatives of the EESC’s three groups (these may be in the form of statements, questions etc.) — Minister’s closing remarks |
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17.45 |
Depart Charlemagne |
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17:50 |
Minister arrives at Jacques Delors Building 99 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels |
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18:00 |
Diplomatic Reception begins (Minister participates in receiving line) Irish music and dance programme |
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19:00 |
Ireland in Europe Reception begins |
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19:30 |
Piper (Jean-Pierre Faure) pipes Dais party down stairs — Welcoming remarks by Mr. Mario Sepi, President of EESC (2mins) — Ambassador Nason introduces Minister Mansergh — Minister addresses Reception (5-7 minutes) |
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19:45 |
Irish music and dance programme |
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21:30 |
Depart Jacques Delors Building Dinner (tbc) Staying at Sofitel, 3 Place Jourdan, 1040 Brussels |
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Thursday 18th |
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10.15 |
Depart Brussels, Aer Lingus flight |
1Following the collapse of the Dutch government, Minister Camiel Eurlings has assumed responsibility for all portfolios in the Ministry.
2From 4 September to 5 December 2010 the National Gallery in Dublin will host an exhibition of works by Gabriel Metsu, a 17th Century Dutch painter. The Metsu exhibition will then go to the Rijksmuseum from 21 December to 21 March 2011. This exhibition presents an opportunity to present Dublin and Ireland as a Cultural Destination of significance. The press reception on March 15th aims (1) to present Dublin as a cultural “City Break” destination with a wealth of cultural things to see and do, and (2) to announce a group trip to Dublin in September for Dutch press, which will offer a sneak preview of the exhibition. The target audience (of 40 people) at the press reception will be National Press (Lifestyle, Newspapers, Travel trade and specialist media), and Irish business and agency contacts in the Netherlands.
3The Regional Water Authorities are concerned, inter alia, with water control/management, and in the development and implementation of international policy (EU). From their web page: “To exchange knowledge and experiences, Regional Water Authorities cooperate with foreign authorities and institutions. To this end, they (via the Association of Regional Water Authorities) are involved in international organisations working in the field of water management, like EUREAU and EUWMA. There is foreign interest in the manner in which the Netherlands organises its water management and in which Regional Water Authorities play a keyrole. The Dutch Association of Regional Water Authorities is a member of the Netherlands Water Partnership, the platform of the Dutch water sector. Dutch expertise can play a role in solving problems elsewhere. But foreign experiences can also contribute to Dutch water management. Whether it concerns joint solutions to shared (cross-border) problems, exchange of expertise, or application of expertise abroad, it is impossible to imagine life without international cooperation in the world of water. Nearly all Regional Water Authorities have developed international activities. In total, over 35 countries are involved.”
4The Ireland Netherlands Business Association (INBA) is a business networking association which works closely with Irish State agencies and the broader Dutch and Irish business communities in the Netherlands. Its membership ranges from international public companies to small and medium sized companies and semi-state organisations. Through periodic networking events, INBA provides a forum for networking and communication. These networking events include twice-yearly dinners, the invitation lists for which are drawn from across the Netherlands-Ireland business communities. Recent speakers at INBA dinners include former Taoisigh Dr. Garret FitzGerald and Bertie Ahern, entrepreneur Harry Crosbie, U2 Manager Paul McGuinness, former Minister for Finance Ruairí Quinn, Dutch Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans, and Peter Sutherland SC, Chairman of BP plc. and of Goldman Sachs International, and UN Special Representative for Migration and Development.
