Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The visit to China achieved a lot. It was the second largest trade delegation ever to leave the State. The largest was also to China, in 2005. As I said, contracts worth €65 million were signed. I spoke to people on the trade delegation and they were very happy with the progress we are making in seeking to establish business relations with counterparts in China. We all know the importance of the emerging Chinese market. Ireland is displaying that the reach of Irish exports is now global, and not simply the UK, Europe and the United States. The Middle East and Asia are important markets that are growing in importance, and Ireland is very well regarded there.

Second, I attended the EU-ASEM meeting, as did many other prime ministers. It was an important debate. Our Asian colleagues attach great importance to the attendance of prime ministers at such a meeting. It gives us an opportunity to acquaint ourselves with colleagues from that part of the world. We might not do much trade with some of their countries but it is important that we show our interest and demonstrate the inter-dependence that exists between these trading blocs, particularly in the context of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, about which they are also concerned.

The conclusions of that meeting were broad agreement on the need for better co-ordination and on the need, at the important meeting in Washington next week, to see how the financial architecture that underpins the world's trading system, it having been established in the aftermath of the Second World War, can be updated to meet the requirements of the 21st century. These are huge issues that require detailed, face-to-face discussions. For that reason it was important that I and many other colleagues attended. Almost all the EU prime ministers, with the exception of the British Prime Minister, were in attendance.

On the other issue the Deputy mentioned, I do not intend to raise this matter any further beyond what the Minister for Foreign Affairs said this morning.

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