Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 13, inclusive, together.

On 22 September, I met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority. We discussed the current situation in Palestine in general and the prospects of progress towards an agreed two state solution.

I travelled to New York to attend the UN high level meeting on the millennium development goals on 25 September. I spoke on the topic of hunger at a round table discussion on food security. During the course of my visit I launched the report of the hunger task force in the presence of the UN Secretary General. As I mentioned in the House last week the task force on hunger report was very well received. I was accompanied by my programme manager, my private secretary, the Government press secretary, two senior officials from my Department, and my personal protection officer. The delegation travelled to New York on a scheduled commercial flight.

I visited China from 22 to 25 October. The purpose of my visit, in addition to attending the Asia-Europe, ASEM, summit in Beijing, was to further strengthen bilateral and trade relations between China and Ireland and to assist with developing co-operation in new sectors, including financial services.

I led a trade mission involving approximately 100 Irish businesses and organisations and participated in a business breakfast organised by Enterprise Ireland, attended by more than 500 guests, as well as events organised by IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia. These events promoted Ireland as a source of world-class products and services. As a result of this trade mission, contracts were signed worth €65 million over the next 12 to 18 months. I also witnessed the signing of two important memoranda of understanding between our respective regulatory authorities in the financial services area, which will enhance opportunities in the financial services sector and facilitate greater investment in both directions.

During my visit to China, I met with Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. We discussed the potential for Ireland and China to do more business together, as well as EU-China relations and the international economic and financial crisis. I also gave a keynote speech on Ireland-China relations at the prestigious China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

I participated in ASEM VII, the Asia-Europe summit which is held every two years to promote political, economic and cultural co-operation between Asian and European leaders and to identify common strategies to address global issues that impact on both regions. Summit topics included discussions on the current international economic and financial situation, food security, and disaster preparedness and management. During the summit I highlighted the global issue of world hunger and emphasised the importance of collective action in tackling hunger and its underlying causes. I specifically referred to the key recommendations of the Government's hunger task force report — delivering on the millennium development goals, increasing agricultural productivity in Africa and action on maternal and infant malnutrition — as being highly relevant to our discussions.

Regarding my travelling plans for the remainder of 2008, I will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels in December.

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