Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 May 1993

Vol. 431 No. 4

Written Answers. - Ministerial Visits.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

40 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will give a list of the countries he has visited in his official capacity since taking office; the results of these visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. McCreevy)

Countries visited by the Minister for Tourism and Trade in his official capacity since assuming office are as follows: Belgium; Luxembourg; Denmark; the United Kingdom; Germany; the United States of America; China and Hon Kong.

Apart from his visits to Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, where the Minister represented Ireland at EC Council meetings, the primary purpose of the visits he has made abroad was the promotion of Irish tourism and foreign trade.

The Minister's visits to the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States were part of successful trade promotions aimed at generating increased business this season from these three very important overseas markets for Irish tourism. His visit to China and Hong Kong, he visited briefly en-route to China, identified potential opportunities for the development of trade with that region. The Minister led a delegation from the aviation sector in Ireland to China. The results of that mission will be evident in coming years following the development of contracts established in the course of the mission.