Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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1635. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of engagements that the Minister of State with special responsibility for Tourism and Sport had on his August 2013 visit to the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37404/13]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I visited the USA from 14th to 17th August last to attend the Milwaukee Irish Fest and a number of Tourism Ireland promotional events and meetings. Below is the Itinerary for my trip.  

Wednesday, August 14:

11.25 - Depart Dublin                                                  

Afternoon - Arrive Chicago approx.

1.45 pm - Briefing meeting with Tourism Ireland

Evening - Meet with members of the Irish Community in Chicago / Reception hosted by Consul General

Thursday, August 15:

Morning - Media interviews at the hotel including:

10.00 -  Interview with Mary Lu Laffey, The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights,

10.45 - Video interview with Keith Johnson,  Planner Wire on Business Tourism.

11.15 - Cliff Carlson, Editor, Irish America News

12.15 - Depart hotel for lunch event at Gage Restaurant

12.30 -14.00 - Tourism Ireland networking reception and lunch with Travel Trade, Carriers, Local Media, Business Tourism contacts

14.15 - Depart Chicago for Milwaukee. Greeted on arrival by Colleen Kennedy, Guest Relations, Milwaukee Irish Fest

17.00 - Depart for Milwaukee Irish Fest Opening Ceremony

17.30 - Irish Fest Opening ceremony on Aer Lingus stage

18.00 - Milwaukee Irish Fest Reception

Friday, 16 August:

06.50 - Depart Hotel for Irish Festival Grounds

07.15 - Arrive at Festival Grounds

07.45  - Media Interviews with WITI-TV FOX Milwaukee

08.10 -  Depart Festival Grounds for transfer to NBC studio

08.45 - Arrive at NBC studios

09.10 - Media Interview on the Morning Blend show

09.40 - Depart for Milwaukee City Hall at 200 E. Wells St.

10.00 - Reception at City Hall to welcome Minister Ring and other honored  guests hosted by Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett, and Aldermen Michael Murphy and Robert Donovan.

11.45 - Depart City Hall for media lunch

12.00 - Lunch with local media representatives  

15.45 - Depart for Milwaukee Irish Fest

16.00 - View Opening

16.15 - Visit Tourism Ireland and Irish Destinations area and meet participants.

17.00 - Visit the Clare County Council reception at the Brian Boru tent at the festival grounds.

17.30 - Tour the Milwaukee Irish Fest

18.00 - Visit Cultural Village: Gaeltacht, Hedge School,  Theater, Dance Pavilion, Cultural Exhibit Pavilion, Currachs, Genealogy, etc.

Saturday, 17 August

10.00 am - Depart for Chicago

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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1636. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the parameters of the discussions held with ministerial colleagues at the informal meeting of Ministers for Transport in Vilnius, Lithuania from 15 to 16 September 2013; if he will detail any agreements reached; if he will provide an update on matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Owing to a prior commitment, I was unable to attend this meeting but Ireland was represented at official level. The Council discussions on this issue on Monday the 16th of September 2013 were of an informal nature and were arranged for the purposes of holding a preliminary exchange of views on the Commission’s proposals.  No decision or agreement was scheduled to be reached at this Informal Council. A wide-ranging discussion was held during which the objectives of the Single European Sky were fully endorsed and supported. There was however a prevailing view that the Commission’s proposals are somewhat premature and that insufficient time is being given to allow existing legislative measures to be fully implemented.  In these circumstances, there is accordingly a doubt on the supplementary value of introducing additional legislative measures at this point towards the achievement of the Single European Sky.

In relation to further discussions on these proposals in the short-term, the position in this respect remains to be clarified as the Lithuanian EU Presidency already has a comprehensive programme of other important matters on its agenda.