Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he intends, following the recommendation of the Irish Economic Forum 2011, to appoint a Minister with specific responsibility for relationships with Asia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33481/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ministers are appointed by the President following nomination by the Taoiseach. As the Deputy will also be aware, there is already a Minister of State for Trade and Development in my Department, Jan O'Sullivan, T.D., who since her appointment has been actively engaging with the Asian region. Later this month, she will visit Vietnam and Korea where she will meet with senior Government Ministers, Chambers of Commerce and the Irish Diaspora as well as participate in the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

I myself recently made official visits to Japan and Korea. The visits gave me an opportunity to conduct bilateral meetings with senior Ministers in both the Japanese and Korean Governments with a view to strengthening and developing our bilateral ties. In Japan, I also met with Keidanren, the representative organisation for major Japanese corporations, while, in Korea, I addressed leading figures in Korea's Finance Sector at the Seoul Finance Forum. Both events gave me an opportunity to provide detailed briefings on business related opportunities in Ireland. I was able, during my visits, to liaise with members of the Asian-based Irish diaspora, particularly at the Asia Pacific Irish Business Forum which was held this year in Seoul and also at the 2011 Asian Gaelic Games which I officially opened.

The recent Global Irish Economic Forum was marked by a high level of enthusiasm among the participants, with candour and frankness characterising the many discussions over the two days. The feedback to date from all who attended has been extremely positive with participants expressing significant satisfaction with the quality of the discussions and the management of the event. Enhancing our engagement with, and presence in, Asia arose on a number of occasions during the Forum. The formal report of the Forum which includes the overall outcomes is being finalised by my Department and will be published shortly.

In order to ensure a whole of Government approach to the delivery of appropriate initiatives, an Interdepartmental Committee, headed by the Secretary General to the Government, which will include Secretaries General from relevant Departments and the heads of State Agencies, will meet this week to consider the Report, the outcomes, and the appropriate follow up mechanisms.