Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
387. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he or officials from his Department have engaged in any form of communication with the World Economic Forum or representatives of the World Economic Forum, including by phone call, webinar, email, or any event organised by the World Economic Forum from 1 January 2019 to date; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department retains ongoing contact with a broad range of international organisations and institutions, of which the World Economic Forum (WEF) is one.
The Department has had some contact with the WEF in the last number of years. That contact has mainly arisen in relation to invitations and plans for attendance at WEF-organised events, primarily the WEF’s annual meeting usually held in Davos, Switzerland. I have not, however, attended a WEF annual meeting in the period in question.
In recent months, the Department has had contact with the WEF in relation to an invitation for attendance at the 2022 Forum. That Forum has since been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A renewed invitation has been received for a re-scheduled annual Forum, to be held from May 22nd-26th; no decision on attendance has been taken. The Department also had some brief contact with the WEF in relation to a proposed event in the margins of the Munich Security conference last month.
In addition to the above, the Embassy of Ireland in Berne has engaged with WEF officials in the period in question, mostly in respect of matters relating to the logistical aspects of Ministers’ and officials’ attendance at the WEF’s annual meeting. This engagement includes participation in annual briefings hosted by the WEF for Ambassadors in the run-up to the Davos event.
The Deputy may wish to note that WEF’s annual meetings were held in 2019 when the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance attended. In 2020, there was no Ministerial attendance and the 2021 meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
