Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Finance the basis on which he was present at a meeting of an organisation (details supplied) in Turin, Italy in June 2018; if he was an official representative of the Government; the person or body that paid for the trip; and the issues that were discussed. [26239/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg Meeting is an annual conference designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America. Every year, between 120-140 political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media are invited to take part in the conference. The conference is a forum for informal discussions about major issues facing the world.

As Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, I accepted an invitation to attend the 2018 Bilderberg meeting, which took place from 7 to 10 June 2018 in Turin, Italy. The topics for discussion included populism in Europe; the inequality challenge; the future of work; free trade; and current events all of which are pertinent to the Government and Ireland's future development.

The expenses for this trip were treated in the same way as any other international official visit undertaken by me in my capacity as Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.