Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has information with regard to a visit by a member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia to a health facility here recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The visit of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz to Ireland, between 18th–21st February 2008, resulted from the Taoiseach-led Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in January 2007, in which I participated. Present on the mission were a number of Irish companies operating in the electronics, software and medical sectors.

During the visit I met with a representative of the Saudi Red Crescent Society. The Society is upgrading its fleet of approximately 700 ambulances and is looking at a range of specialised equipment and software systems to enhance the level of modern pre-hospital emergency care delivered by ambulance services, through the electronic transmission of patient data from an ambulance to a designated hospital. Consequently I invited Prince Faisal, who is President of the Saudi Red Crescent Society, to Ireland, to provide him with an opportunity to explore what Irish industry has to offer the Society in this highly specialised area.

A number of ambulances in the HSE's North Eastern Region operate the particular specialised equipment and software system that allows for the electronic transfer of patient data from those ambulances to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda. The Prince viewed the operation of this system at the hospital on 20th February. I am hopeful that this visit will lead to increased trade opportunities for Irish companies operating in this particular sector.