Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on his visit to Boston; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20295/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I attended the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Boston, Massachusetts and Rhode Island from March 13 to 18 as part of the Government’s Promote Ireland programme . I carried out over twenty separate engagements over the five days, meeting with many of the key contacts in the political , business and local community. The emphasis was on helping to promote trade, tourism and investment-related activity with Ireland and meeting with members of the Irish community abroad.

In particular , I had substantive meetings with the Massachusetts Senate President and State Treasurer, and the Mayors of Boston and Newport , and I met with five members of Congress . I also met with a significant number of Irish companies working in the Boston area as well as all three local organisations who receive support through the Emigrant Support Programme promoted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I attended a lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland attended by 20 Irish companies who are operating in the Boston area - many being small high tech businesses providing niche services to the significant number of US multi nationals in the area. I was invited as a keynote speaker at a number of events including the ‘American Irish Partnership’ where I emphasised the Government’s key economic messages and promoted The Gathering.

The table below outlines some of the highlights of the itinerary.