Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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121. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States'. [8922/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I have not yet had the opportunity to engage with my newly-appointed counterpart, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Pete Buttigieg, since his appointment on 3 February 2021. However, I note that arrangements for a courtesy call with the recently-appointed Chargé d'Affaires in the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Alexandra McKnight, are currently being finalised by my private office.

With regard to engagement with my counterpart in the previous U.S. administration, I confirm that no bilateral meeting has taken place since my appointment as Minister, however, both I and the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ms. Elaine Chao, took part in the virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum's Stewardship Board of the Platform on Shaping the Future of Mobility on 14 September 2020.

I also held a call with former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Edward F. Crawford, on 15th October last, where issues relating to Covid-19 and international travel between Ireland and the United States were discussed.