Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 294: To ask the Minister for Finance the details of his travels abroad for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the people who travelled with him in their official party; the duration of the visit; and the cost. [14497/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Successive Governments have followed a long-standing tradition of availing of the period around St Patrick's Day to capitalise on the goodwill and unparalleled opportunities generated by the celebrations to promote Ireland abroad. These visits are also important for enhancing our links with Irish communities abroad to express the Government's appreciation for the valuable work of Irish community and friendship groups.

I visited Australia from 11 to 19 March 2006 as part of the Government's structured programme of ministerial visits abroad for St. Patrick's Day to engage with the Irish community and to promote modern Ireland overseas, in particular, the attractiveness of Ireland as a market for inward investment across a range of sectors. My seven-day programme contained a balance of Irish community and business events. I used each occasion to showcase Ireland as a world class economy and tourism destination and in my speeches I referred specifically to the "Irish advantage" that has contributed to our economic success and to the promotion of Ireland as a knowledge economy, particularly the building up of our research capacity and capability, which has underpinned much of our economic performance over the last decade.

In Sydney I visited the offices of the Irish Australian Welfare Bureau and presented a cheque from the Government for AUS$65,000 to the president of the bureau; I attended a working lunch hosted by the IDA for senior members of Perpetual Trust, Macquarie Bank and QBE Insurance, all of which are located in Ireland; I visited the Irish Famine memorial at Hyde Park barracks and presented the Irish Famine Memorial award to a student from Macquarie University; I attended a reception hosted by the general for the Irish community, business and political contacts; I attended a meeting with Validsoft, an Irish banking software solutions company along with its first client in Australia, Macquarie Bank; and I met a number of Enterprise Ireland client companies. I gave an interview to the editor of the Irish Echo; I was the guest speaker at a Tourism Ireland lunch for members of the Australian travel trade and I met representatives of the New South Wales Irish parliamentary friendship group at Parliament Buildings.

In Canberra I was the guest of honour at the ambassador's St. Patrick's Day reception attended by 500 people; I gave an interview to the Australian Financial Review, Australia's leading financial newspaper and I met the Secretary of the Treasury and a senior adviser. In Brisbane I attended the black-tie dinner of the Queensland Irish Association which is in its 108th year. In Sydney I delivered a keynote address to the Lansdowne Club's annual business lunch; attended the Sydney St. Patrick's Day ball and attended a reception at the Town Hall, hosted by the Deputy Lord Mayor, to mark the Sydney St. Patrick's Day parade. I was accompanied on the trip by my wife, special adviser and private secretary. The overall cost of the visit is not yet available.