Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As has been the case for a long time, St. Patrick's Day and the period around it will involve a large number of events and functions, with many taking place in the period from Friday to Tuesday in different parts of the world. As well as being our national day, it provides a framework to showcase modern Ireland all over the world. Successive Governments have done this successfully for many years and it is used unashamedly by us as a marketing opportunity.

St. Patrick's Day offers an excellent opportunity to highlight to a global audience, in a way that cannot happen at any other time of the year, the advantages of doing business in this country and also to promote the country as a world class tourist destination, which helps us to attract inward investment. There are also the historical developments in recent years in the peace process and on other issues. While these issues move on, it has given us a chance to change how the country is perceived. It was seen as a country that was always in the news because of trouble and violence — the last atrocity or the next fear — but that has moved on. The message of hope, partnership, prosperity and confidence from a rising generation has changed that and we can now show that we have a stable environment. In recent years the economic horizons have expanded, which has allowed us to look at things in a different way.

Deputy Kenny's question was a fair one. In deciding ministerial travel commitments, it is not my Department which co-ordinates but the Department of Foreign Affairs — it has been the same system for decades. The opportunities are considered and Enterprise Ireland is involved from the perspective of tourism, the promotion of trade and finding where the opportunities lie for business in key economic markets, as well as raising awareness of the potential of growth in our economic relations with emerging markets. Trade between Ireland and the countries which Government representatives will visit this St. Patrick's day is valued at in excess of €165 billion at 2006 rates — I do not have the figures for 2007.

The St. Patrick's day brand unquestionably provides us with a unique global market opportunity which is the envy of many countries. Deputy Kenny and all in the House know that many other countries look to the access we get——

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