Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Heads of State who will visit this country in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10526/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A state visit to Ireland by the President of the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, is due to take place in mid-April 2008. There is a strong likelihood that a second state visit, from another of the countries that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, will take place later in the year.

The general purpose of visits by Heads of State, including visits by the President abroad, is to promote a country's image internationally and to develop economic, political and cultural links with the countries visited. The usual practice is to make two state visits a year abroad and to receive a similar number of state visits to Ireland. Apart from state visits, other incoming visits by Heads of State for official purposes sometimes arise. There are no visits of this kind planned, at this stage, for 2008.

As the Deputy will appreciate, visits at this level normally involve considerable planning and lengthy lead-in times.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Who initiates contact for state visits, in Ireland and abroad? What reasons lie behind state visits to Ireland and our State visits abroad? Has a request for an Irish representative to perform a state visit ever been turned down by the would-be host country? Has Ireland ever refused a request by a Head of State to visit the country?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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An invitation is normally extended by the President, with the Government's agreement and the two governments involved would usually decide when a visit should take place. I do not recall either an incoming or outgoing visit ever being rejected. There may be occasions, such as an election, when it would not be appropriate for the President to conduct a visit to a state but generally invitations, whether to come to Ireland or go to another state, are acceded to.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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What of President Daniel Ortega?

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Recent media reports have speculated that the British Head of State may visit Ireland. Have there been discussions in this regard?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach recently said that a visit to Ireland by the Queen of England is on the agenda but, in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, there are outstanding matters, including the devolution of policing and justice issues. When these matters are addressed the question of a state visit by the Queen of England will be examined more intensely.

The Taoiseach said on the radio on Christmas Eve that he feels it is inevitable the Queen of England will visit at some stage and I agree. However, we must wait until all issues under the Good Friday Agreement are addressed.