Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We did not do that in the Seanad, and that is an important point to make. I hope others will also make that point in tomorrow's debate and elsewhere.

I welcome that we are seeing such a successful Web Summit under way in the RDS in Dublin. There are 22,000 delegates attending. I congratulate all involved. It is an immense achievement to have brought together so many people. It is the biggest summit of its kind in the world and brings about €100 million to the capital city in terms of the direct proceeds and spin-off from the conference. There are clearly many other spin-offs and I suggest to the Leader we might at some point have a debate on the developments arising from a succession of successful web summits over the years in Dublin.

I welcome the fact President Higgins is on a visit to Ethiopia. When we next have a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Minister of State at that Department, Deputy Sherlock, we might include issues around trade links and other links with African countries. The Minister of State signed a double taxation agreement with Ethiopia yesterday which will benefit Irish companies.

When we are debating issues concerning the African continent, it is important that we look in particular at the development of trade and cultural links with countries with which we have had long links over many years and where we are now seeing really important developments. I think President Higgins's visit will strengthen those links.