Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding that was spent in the USA by his Department in the past twelve month period; the events that took place in America that were attended by him or his Department officials; the costs of travel, and so on for attendance at each event by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33047/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding spent by his Department and the Government in attending the St. Patrick's Day Parade event in America, including details of all costs such as travel, drinks, receptions, accommodation and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33048/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding spent by his Department in America in 2006 and to date in 2007, to include all travels costs, reception costs, details of events, sponsorship and funding allocated to US based organisations and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33050/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 139 and 141 together.

With reference to the Deputy's query regarding St. Patrick's Day, I, along with an official party of four, travelled to Washington from 14 March to 16 March 2007 to join the Taoiseach in a programme of events and ceremonies designed to both celebrate St. Patrick's Day and to promote Irish interests in the United States. The total costs of the visit, including flights and accommodation, came to €30,492.

I am not in a position to comment on any travel or other costs incurred by any Government Department other than my own in relation to this or other visits to the United States as these are matters for each individual Minister and Department. In 2006 I visited Dallas and Washington to participate in the official St. Patrick's Day celebrations for that year. In addition, I made a number of visits to the United States in 2006 and 2007 for the purpose of discussions with senior figures in the Administration and in Congress on a range of issues including developments in Northern Ireland, immigration reform and other bilateral issues. These visits also provided an opportunity for meetings with groups active on immigration reform and other issues of concern to the Irish community. Estimated costs of these visits are provided below.

In addition, there have been a number of visits to the United States by officials from my Department for a range of purposes including bilateral consultations, participation in conferences and training programmes. It would not be feasible to provide a detailed breakdown of costs in individual cases.

With reference to the Deputy's query regarding funding allocated by my Department to US based organisations, I can confirm that funding to support the Irish Immigration Centres, the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and support groups in the United States amounted to €1.128m in 2006 and the outturn in 2007 will exceed €1.554m. A €2m contribution to an endowment fund for The Ireland Funds, in support of the work undertaken by that organisation, has been provided for in my Department's 2007 budgetary allocation. Departmental funding in support of Irish cultural activities in the United States amounted to €35,221 in 2006 and the outturn in 2007 will be in the order of €44,000, although not all such funding was channelled through US based organisations.

In addition to travel and attendance at events in the United States by me, as Minister, and by officials from Dublin, the Ambassador in Washington and the diplomatic staff and officials of the Embassy and the four Consulates General engage in a targeted programme of representational activities and participate in a range of events in the United States in support of Government economic and political objectives.