Ministerial Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Ceisteanna (887)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

887. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of all official foreign trips she and Ministers of State in her Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if she will provide details of who she and the Ministers of State in her Department will be meeting on these trips; the purpose of these trips; the duration of these trips; her plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20438/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I am currently attending the NAFSA (Association of International Educators) Conference in Boston for five days, the largest global event within international education. More than 10,000 international educators attend this conference annually from over 100 countries. The main focus of my visit will be to meet with both the Head of NAFSA and the President of the Institute of International Education in order to promote Ireland as a quality education destination for US students.

I hope to lead an Education Mission to China in the last quarter of this year, but as of yet the dates and programme have not yet been confirmed. During the mission I will accept the baton for Ireland as country of honour for the 2016 Chinese Education Expo. The mission will also involve visits and meetings with higher education institutions along with governmental meetings.

At this stage there are currently no overseas trips planned between now and the end of 2015 for Minister of State, Damien English T.D.