Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

On foot of an invitation from Professor Klaus Schwab, I travelled to Davos, Switzerland to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, from 25 to 27 January. The forum was attended by political and business leaders and heads of international organisations from across the globe. I participated in a series of discussions that focused on current economic, structural and political challenges and how they might be addressed in a more proactive and integrated manner. These issues were reflected in the overall theme of the forum - The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models.

On Wednesday evening, I attended a function hosted by Professor Schwab, executive chairman of the forum, and also attended by other Heads of Government and the business council of the WEF. The forum organises a series of formal interactive sessions for the participants. On Thursday afternoon, I participated as a panellist in a plenary interactive session, entitled "Rebuilding Europe", along with Prime Minister Katainen of Finland, President Komorowski of Poland and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. This session, moderated by Mr. Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, focused on the future of Europe and principally on measures to address financial instability within the eurozone area. The following day, I participated in a private discussion session on the prevailing global themes for 2012, including the fallout from the Arab spring revolutions of 2011, turbulence in the Middle East, global financial issues and employment, job creation and social stability.

While I was at the forum, I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark and later with Prime Minister Katainen of Finland. We discussed the current situation in the eurozone and progress in the negotiations towards the new intergovernmental treaty. I explained the issues that remained of particular importance to Ireland, including in respect of our bank-related debt. We discussed the growth agenda and I stressed the need to focus on growth and jobs. I briefed the Prime Ministers on the successful outcome of Ireland's recent EU-IMF quarterly review. I congratulated Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt on her Government's successful start to the Danish Presidency of the European Union and I said that I looked forward to working with her and her Government over the next five months. I also updated both Prime Ministers on Ireland's current chairmanship of the OSCE.

On Thursday evening, I addressed a dinner organised by IDA Ireland and attended by senior executives of major international companies. I took the opportunity to convey the message that, as a result of the necessary economic adjustments we had made, Ireland was significantly more competitive as a location for doing business. I noted, for example, that the World Bank rated Ireland as providing the most supportive business environment in the euro area in 2011, while the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook awarded us three firsts for 2011 - for corporate tax regime, business legislation for foreign investors and the availability of skilled labour. I conveyed the same positive messages about Ireland in a series of bilateral meetings with chief executives and other leaders of major multinational firms over the course of my time at the forum. The IDA event and these bilateral events were very useful opportunities for me to convey strong messages about the attraction of Ireland as a location for foreign investment, research and development and export-oriented operations.

The World Economic Forum provides an exceptional opportunity to interact with key opinion formers in the business world and I made every effort to take full advantage of it. I also met with President Martelly of Haiti at his request. He was on his way to Ireland for a private visit after the forum. I expressed our continued solidarity with the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2010 and noted the assistance that had been given by Ireland and the international community towards the recovery programme.

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