Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposed itinerary for St. Patrick's week celebrations; the areas and countries involved and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6629/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will be representing the Government at various ceremonies organised in Estonia as a celebration of St. Patrick's Day. During the visit, I will also have a bilateral meeting with the Estonian social affairs minister as well as meeting the chairman and vice-chairman of the Estonian Parliament social affairs committee. I will be based in Tallinn and will depart Ireland on Wednesday, 16 March and return on Friday, 18 March 2005.

Estonia often looks to the Irish economy as a model of economic development within the European Union. Ireland's trade with Estonia has been steady over the past number of years. Official figures for the year end 2004 are not yet available. However, overall trade increased from 2002 to 2003 by approximately 5% to 6%.