Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, TD, today stated that her visit to Scotland over St. Patrick’s weekend will focus on investment, tourism and celebrating the strong cultural links between Scotland and Ireland.
“It is an honour to represent the Irish Government at a series of important events in Scotland over the St. Patrick’s weekend. Ireland has unique historic and cultural ties with Scotland and the St. Patrick’s festival provides the opportunity to celebrate and strengthen those ties.
“There will be a strong trade promotion element to the visit that will benefit jobs and investment in Ireland. The UK is one of Ireland’s most import export markets. The UK, including Scotland, accounts for more than 40% of all our food and beverage exports and Enterprise Ireland supported companies export more than €6m worth of goods and services to the UK each year.
“During the Ministerial visit I will be attending an important Tourism Ireland event in Glasgow. There was a 6% increase in the number of UK tourists to Ireland last year and Tourism Ireland has ambitious plans for 2014. The new Wild Atlantic Way project and the Limerick City of Culture 2014 initiative are two projects I will be highlighting when meeting key Scottish tourism contacts.
“I am also looking forward to attending a workshop on renewal energy opportunities in Edinburgh with a number of Irish companies. The Scottish renewable energy sector is expanding significantly and this workshop will provide Irish companies with an outline of future developments and the opportunities that exist for Irish firms to win contracts across a variety of areas.
“The visit will provide an opportunity to celebrate Irish culture and the contribution the diaspora has made to Scotland. I’ll be attending the festival in Coatbridge, which is the largest St. Patrick’s Day event outside of London and also attending the Glasgow Festival Family Day.
Among other key items in the agenda for Minister O’Sullivan’s visit to Scotland are:
• Meeting with the Scottish Minister for Planning and Local Government, Derek Mackay
• Meeting with the Scottish Minister for Housing and Welfare, Margaret Burgess
• Briefing at the British Irish Council Secretariat
• Attend National Day event with Lord Provost of Edinburgh
“The St. Patrick’s festival in Scotland is good for Irish jobs and Irish investment. It is also an important event in strengthening links between Scotland and Ireland and acknowledging the role that Irish immigrants have and are playing in the life of both countries,” concluded Minister O’Sullivan.