Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 38: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposed travel itinerary for the next month. [5202/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My travel schedule will be designed to ensure the effective and vigorous fulfilment of my responsibilities as Minister for Foreign Affairs, in particular active pursuit of Ireland's foreign policy objectives, working to rebuild our international reputation and promotion of our economic interests overseas. The majority of my travel arises directly from Ireland's active and committed membership of the EU and UN, including monthly EU Council meetings.

Since assuming office, I have already undertaken certain important engagements abroad. I attended the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Budapest on 11/12 March. On 15th March, I travelled to New York on an official St. Patrick's Day visit. My programme included participation in an Enterprise Ireland/Bank of America Technology Innovation Event which brought together 20 Irish hi-tech companies with some of the leading technology companies in the US. I also met senior business figures at the Ireland-US Council Luncheon as well as Irish networks based in the US. On 18th March, I travelled to Washington and met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.