Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
152. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason India was not included in the ministerial programme of St. Patrick's Day visits in 2017 or 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13555/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSaint Patrick’s Day presents a unique platform for promoting Ireland’s political and economic interests around the world. Recommendations for Ministerial travel over the Saint Patrick’s Day period are based on input from our Team Ireland network of diplomatic missions and state agency offices overseas and wide consultation and advice from across Departments and Agencies at home on where Ministerial visits would have most significant added value in promoting Ireland’s interests internationally.
One of the factors taken into consideration in making decisions on priority locations for Ministerial travel is whether there are any significant Ministerial visits planned in the period immediately before or after Saint Patrick’s Day which could lessen the impact of an a Ministerial visit during the Saint Patrick’s Day period itself. In the case of India significant Education promotion trade missions were planned and took place in the run up to Saint Patrick’s Day in 2017 and again this year.
In 2017, the Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan T.D. led 16 companies on a major education promotion mission to India from 18-26 February. On 22-27 February 2018, the Minister for State for Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor led the largest education mission to India to date involving 20 Irish Higher Education institutions. Given the scheduling of these two major Ministerial trade missions in the immediate run up to the Saint Patrick's Day period it was felt that our trade priorities in the region were already being addressed. Given the resources associated with a St Patrick’s Day visit, it was felt that these would be best focussed elsewhere.
