Written answers

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Ministerial Travel

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the companies that travelled to Cleveland, Ohio with An Taoiseach in October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3514/14]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In October 2012, the Taoiseach made a two-day visit to the United States as part of a Government bid to attract foreign investment and tourism to Ireland. The Taoiseach's visit, which included stops in Philadelphia and Cleveland, was aimed at delivering a message to international business people, investors and the Irish diaspora, that Ireland is open for business. Over the course of the visit, the Taoiseach:

- Officially opened the new US headquarters for Enterprise Ireland client, Zenith Technologies, in Philadelphia;

- Travelled to the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Ohio, a globally renowned and leading US hospital across a variety of specialties. Enterprise Ireland, working with the Cleveland Clinic, arranged for the Taoiseach to speak at the City Club of Cleveland which was hosted by the Clinic on the main campus of the hospital.

- the Taoiseach and Frank Ryan, the then CEO Enterprise Ireland, were given a guided tour of the Cleveland Clinic by the Clinic’s CEO, Dr Toby Cosgrove, a key figure in advising US policy on healthcare reform. As part of this event, the Taoiseach formally announced the investment by Enterprise Ireland and Cleveland Clinic in Irish-based High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) company i360 Medical – the first time the Clinic had invested in a company overseas. The Taoiseach subsequently met with a variety of Irish companies which, through the work of EI, have established a relationship with, and subsequent presence at, the Clinic.

- Enterprise Ireland also hosted a private dinner for its clients with the Taoiseach, senior leadership of the Cleveland Clinic and the CEO of North Shore Long Island Jewish, another high-profile hospital in New Jersey.

The companies that attended at the Taoiseach’s visit to the Cleveland Clinic did so in a private capacity and were not part of the official mission. I am, therefore, not in a position to identify any of the companies present at the event.

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