Question to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Mr. Phil Hogan, TD)
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on his visit to Boston; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 1st May, 2013.
REPLY
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Mr. P. Hogan)
I attended the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Boston, Massachusetts and Rhode Island from March 13 to 18 as part of the Government’s Promote Ireland programme . I carried out over twenty separate engagements over the five days, meeting with many of the key contacts in the political , business and local community. The emphasis was on helping to promote trade, tourism and investment-related activity with Ireland and meeting with members of the Irish community abroad .
In particular , I had substantive meetings with the Massachusetts Senate President and State Treasurer, and the Mayors of Boston and Newport , and I met with five members of Congress . I also met with a significant number of Irish companies working in the Boston area as well as all three local organisations who receive support through the Emigrant Support Programme promoted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade .
I attended a lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland attended by 20 Irish companies who are operating in the Boston area – many being small high tech businesses providing niche services to the significant number of US multi nationals in the area. I was invited as a keynote speaker at a number of events including the ‘American Irish Partnership’ where I emphasised the Government’s key economic messages and promoted The Gathering .
The table below outlines some of the highlights of the itinerary:
| Date
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Event
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| Thursday 14 March
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Breakfast with representatives of an Irish Property Company to discuss promotion of recovering Irish p roperty market to US investors
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Visit and tour of Boston College
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Enterprise Ireland lunch with 20 Irish Companies operating in the Boston area.
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Attend Massachusetts State Senate ceremony hosted by Senate President, Therese Murray.
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Meeting with US company interested in business opportunities in Ireland
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Evening reception hosted by the ‘American Ireland Fund’
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| Friday 15 March
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Speech at ‘American Irish Partnership’ St Patrick’s Day breakfast.
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Visit to ‘Irish Immigration Center’
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Speech at the Annual Order of Hibernians lunch in Lawerence
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Visit to Lowell to meet with contacts from the University’s ‘Centre for Irish Studies’, the City Council and the Irish Community.
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Attend Irish Consulate’s reception at Boston Federal Courthouse
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| Saturday 16 March
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Breakfast meeting with Mayor and local dignitaries at Newport City Hall, Rhode Island and attended Parade in the City
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Visit to Irish Cultural Center in Canton
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Met with dignitaries attending the West Roxbury Irish Social Club St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
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Attended the annual St Patrick’s Dinner in Boston
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| Sunday 17 March
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Presented the ’Ambassador’s Medal’ at a breakfast function in Holyoke, Western Massachusetts.
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Marched in St Patrick’s day parade
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Speech at 276 th anniversary dinner of the ‘Charitable Irish Society’
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| Monday 18 March
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Meeting with Irish Pastoral Centre
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