Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made since December 2008 in co-ordinating the Government's promotional activities overseas as announced in the Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal report; the efforts made to optimise the economic potential of visits by Ministers abroad; and the steps taken to stimulate and enhance economic links with the overseas Irish. [43148/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and our network of Embassies and Consulates work closely and cooperatively with other Government Departments and State Agencies to optimise the promotion of Ireland overseas. With a view to more effective coordination of the Government's overseas promotional activities, the document Building Ireland's Smart Economy envisages Ambassadors in major markets taking an active role in this regard. In implementation of this Action Point, Ambassadors in the major markets have been instructed to more actively pursue trade and economic promotional activity and convene regular meetings with State Agencies, which are represented on the ground, to coordinate and report on promotional efforts.

Close cooperation also takes place between my Department and other Government Departments and Agencies to ensure that the best use is made of the promotional opportunities presented by Ministerial visits overseas. Embassies are expected to identify possible economic promotion events to be included in Ministerial itineraries. This is particularly the case in relation to Ministerial visits abroad for St. Patrick's Day, where every effort is made to ensure that, as was the case this year, the themes, programmes and messages for these visits have a strong economic content. Earlier in the year a letter was issued from my office to the offices of other Ministers nominating a focal point in the Department (the Promoting Ireland Abroad Division) to liaise with these offices and our Embassies abroad so as to ensure that, throughout the year, Ministers are aware of promotional opportunities in overseas markets.

Last September, with a view to stimulating and enhancing economic links with the overseas Irish, I organized the Global Irish Economic Forum, which was held at Farmleigh. It brought together international business, cultural and political figures with Irish links, or a strong interest in Ireland. The Forum was convened with two broad objectives: to explore how the Irish at home and abroad, and those with a strong interest in Ireland, could work together and contribute to our overall efforts at economic recovery; and to examine ways in which Ireland and its global community could develop a more strategic relationship with each other, particularly in the economic sector.

A range of themes and specific proposals emerged from the Forum, including the issue of a new global Irish network. Work has already begun in my Department on the establishment of such a network, composed of those invited to Farmleigh. The Government has established a new inter-Departmental Committee of senior officials chaired by the Secretary General to the Government to consider and take forward the work of the Forum. This group will report directly to Government, which will review progress on a regular basis.

In October this year, in implementation of the recommendations contained in the US/Ireland Strategic Review, I chaired the inaugural meeting of the Irish – American Leadership Council in New York. The Council brings together the national leadership of Irish-American business, community, philanthropic and cultural organizations throughout the United States. It is intended to act as a point for collective consultation and advice for the Government across a wide spectrum of issues.