Mr. John Whelan:

I thank Deputy Durkan for his comments on the gold medal award for Mr. Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex. We will certainly take up the suggestion of repackaging it in some form in order that it can be used during the Irish Presidency. We have praised the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for increasing substantially the number of ministerial trade missions last year. It appears, however, that the Department will cut back on such missions during the Presidency because of the workload involved. We are most anxious that it does not cut back on them during the Presidency. Clearly, we have to maximise the Presidency, but at the same time we must be conscious of the need to open a few more doors.