Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his travel plans to the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18610/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am continuing to engage in an intensive series of visits to European capitals in discharge of my mandate as envoy of the UN Secretary General. As envoy, I am tasked with presenting the key elements of the Secretary General's In Larger Freedom report and conveying to the Secretary General, in confidence, the views and concerns expressed by UN members. This is being done to prepare for the summit taking place at the UN in September.

Between now and the end of the year, I will attend also a number of EU related meetings including meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC; the informal meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs; European Council meetings scheduled for June, October and December and the UN General Assembly in September.

I will, of course, continue to meet the British Government and all the parties associated with the peace process in Northern Ireland and travel, as required, in furtherance of the Government's commitment to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. My programme of visits and meetings abroad until the end of the year is kept under constant review.