Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 14, inclusive, together.

The G8 brings together the leaders of the world's major industrialised countries: the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom. The European Union has been represented at the G8 since the Lisbon treaty entered into force by the President of the European Council, currently Herman Von Rompuy, and the Commission President, currently Jose Manuel Barroso. There is no formal role for the Head of Government of the member state holding the EU Presidency. This year the United Kingdom holds the one year presidency of the G8 and I am delighted that Prime Minister Cameron has chosen the Lough Erne Golf Resort, Enniskillen, as the location for the 39th G8 summit and associated events on 17 and 18 June. Prime Minister Cameron indicated to me last year that he was considering County Fermanagh as the venue and sought my views on the idea. I was happy to encourage him, noting that it would be a good outcome not just for Northern Ireland but also for the entire island. He also indicated that he would like me to join him in County Fermanagh on the occasion of these important events, which invitation I was pleased to accept on behalf of the people. This invitation reflects the fact that relations between Ireland and Britain are stronger than ever, as well as the particular choice of location for the summit. Details of the programme of events at Lough Erne have not yet been finalised and I will report on them to the House in due course.

Prime Minister Cameron has indicated that the focus of the UK presidency of the G8 in 2013 will be on three issues which are critical for growth, prosperity and economic development across the world. These are advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency. Consequently, I expect that the G8 leaders will concentrate on these themes in their discussions at the summit. While I cannot say what specific human rights issues, if any, will be discussed at the summit, I assure the House that Ireland will continue to support calls for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and the trial or release of detainees, as appropriate, as soon as possible.

On the issue of poverty, I am happy to report that, at the invitation of Prime Minister Cameron, I participated last Saturday in an event - Nutrition for Growth: Beating Hunger through Business and Science - organised in the context of the United Kingdom's G8 presidency. This collaborative event harnessed the support of governments, business and scientific and civil society communities to address malnutrition more effectively. It achieved significant commitments for investment in nutrition which are urgently needed to transform the lives of millions of women and children around the world. I pledged that, within our overall overseas aid resources, Ireland would double its nutrition efforts in the next eight years to 2020. This will involve strengthening our leadership role and partnerships on nutrition with Irish Aid's key partner countries to effectively tackle the scourge of hunger and malnutrition.

The decision to hold the G8 summit in County Fermanagh provides a unique opportunity for all of us, especially political leaders in Northern Ireland, to show the world the progress being made in the North and demonstrate the potential of the peace process to have real, tangible benefits for people across these islands. The recent publication of Together: Building a United Community Strategy for Good Relations by the Northern Ireland Executive is a positive step in the process which I will be happy to discuss with any G8 leader should a suitable opportunity arise. That the summit is taking place in County Fermanagh has very positive implications for this part of the island. In the near term a large number of the accompanying delegations are staying here, which is a welcome boost for tourism and local economies. More generally, the summit comes at a time when British-Irish relations have never been stronger and can play a positive role in strengthening these relations even further.

On the question of bilateral visits, I am pleased to confirm that Prime Minister Harper of Canada has accepted my invitation to come to Dublin next weekend prior to the summit. I will meet him on Sunday and we will take the opportunity to discuss the first-class bilateral relations between Ireland and Canada and prospects for enhancing our economic and trade relations. We will also discuss progress in finalising the EU-Canada trade agreement and I will brief him on the progress we achieved in this regard during our EU Presidency.

I wrote to the Japanese Prime Minister some months ago inviting him to visit Ireland around the time of the G8 summit and I am very hopeful he will visit Dublin after it concludes. This would be the first visit to Dublin by a Japanese Prime Minister and mark an important step in deepening relations between Ireland and Japan. It would also provide a significant opportunity to build on the already strong trade and investment links between our countries. I note that all external visits by the Japanese Prime Minister must be approved by the Japanese Parliament and I will report to the House in due course on this and any other bilateral visit that take place around the time of the G8 summit.

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