Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will be travelling abroad for the St. Patrick's Day festivities; and if so, the location she will be visiting; the functions she will be attending; and the groups she will meet with. [9941/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will be in Dubai for the St. Patrick's Day functions from 21 March 2006 to 23 March 2006. The itinerary has not been fully finalised yet but it includes the following engagements; meeting with Minister for Education; visit to higher colleges of technology; lunch meeting with educationalists hosted by higher colleges of technology; meeting committee of Irish Society; meeting EI office and proposed visa office; visit Knowledge Village Dubai; meeting with Irish business people; visit Aer Lingus local handler — Dnata; tourism promotion events; meeting Irish thoroughbred marketing; reception for Ireland UAE business network; attend GAA tournament; and guest speaker at Irish Society ball. The accelerated development of Dubai as a regional hub for the Gulf and surrounding markets and as a distribution, marketing, manufacturing and information and communications centre, has resulted in a number of Irish companies establishing their regional headquarters in Dubai. I will be meeting with local Irish business leaders in the course of my visit to Dubai.

There is an active young Irish community in the UAE, mainly in the education, service and construction sectors. I will attend the committee of the Irish Society dinner and Irish Society ball where I will present the prizes for a GAA tournament taking place in Dubai.

Also in late March, Aer Lingus will commence its new direct flight service to Dubai and I will use my visit to the UAE to actively promote Ireland as a tourism destination.