Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine departed today for Australia and New Zealand where he will represent the Government over the Saint Patrick’s Day period. In an intensive programme of engagements, the Minister will visit Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, before moving on to Wellington and Auckland.
During the visit the Minister will promote trade, investment and tourism with Ireland. He will meet Irish community groups and senior political figures including his ministerial counterparts in Australia and New Zealand.
In Sydney and Melbourne, Minister Coveney will meet Irish companies exporting into the Australia / New Zealand markets. He will also address business breakfasts in both cities attended by senior corporate figures and will brief these groups on the economic recovery underway in Ireland, and will explore with them the opportunities to further grow trade and investment with Australia and New Zealand. The Minister will also take part in tourism-promotion events including an Irish-themed Australian Football League fixture between Greater Western Sydney (‘Giants’) and the Sydney Swans, the ‘Greening’ of the Sydney Opera House, and the launch of a new ‘Old Irish Sydney Walking Tour’ smartphone app.
Minister Coveney will meet Irish community groups during the visit, including recently-arrived emigrants, to hear of their experiences, the challenges they face, and to learn how the Government might best support the Irish abroad.
The Minister will meet senior political figures in both countries. He will discuss openings for Irish agri-food sector with Barnaby Joyce MP, Minister for Agriculture in Australia, and with Nathan Guy MP, Minister for Primary Industries (Agriculture) in New Zealand. In New Zealand, the Minister will also meet senior political and industry figures in the dairy industry. The Minister will also speak to senior figures in the tourism and sport sectors to learn of the approach taken in New Zealand to hosting the Rugby World Cup, in the context of a possible bid to host the competition on the island of Ireland in 2023.
Before leaving on his visit Minister Coveney said he was looking forward to the intensive programme of engagements over Saint Patrick’s Day in Australia and New Zealand. The Minister added:
“I welcome the opportunity to meet Irish communities, in particular those who have recently emigrated. I want to learn of the challenges they face and how the Government might best support them. I want to ensure also that they are aware of the Government’s approach to addressing the challenges facing the country and the positive impact this is having on growth in the economy, in particular in creating jobs.
Referring to trade and business events during his visit, the Minister said:
“Irish exporters are growing the market for their goods and services in Australia and New Zealand. Enterprise Ireland clients are increasingly successful in the software and high technology, and the engineering and construction sectors. I will be meeting those directly involved as well as senior corporate figures to see how I can help to increase their exports into the market, thus helping to create more jobs in Ireland. I am particularly keen also to explore the opportunities that exist for the agri-food sector”.
Commenting on his programme in New Zealand, the Minister added:
“New Zealand has been notably successful in building its dairy industry into a global player and had the opportunity to expand greatly over the years when Ireland was held back due to EU quota limits on our milk output. I want to learn more of the approach adopted and to see what lessons learned there might apply .
Note for Editors
St. Patrick’s Day 2014
Visit of Minister Simon Coveney TD to Australia and New Zealand
11 – 20 March
Programme
Tuesday 11 March
Depart Dublin
Wednesday 12 March
Arrive Sydney
Thursday 13 March – Sydney
Media interviews & briefings
Photocall with Irish Food Companies
‘David Jones’, Market St.
Photocall - Launch Irish Walking Tour of Sydney App
St Mary’s Cathedral
View Irish Famine Memorial
Hyde Park Barracks
Enterprise Ireland Business Lunch
Sydney Tower, Market St
Meet IDA client
Interview Irish Echo
Radio Media interview
Reception hosted by Consul General
Glebe Town Hall
Friday 14 March
Business Breakfast Meeting
Studio Interview ‘Mornings’ ABC Radio Sydney
Media interviews @Consulate General, 1 Market St.
Ferry from Darling Harbour to Glebe Island for Lansdowne Club Lunch
Depart to Sydney Airport
Arrive Brisbane
Queensland Irish Association Dinner
Overnight Brisbane
Saturday 15 March
Meeting with Queensland Irish Association
Elizabeth St
Local media interviews
Brisbane St Patrick’s Day Parade
Transfer to airport
Depart Brisbane
Arrive Sydney
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, GAA Exhibition Matches
and
Greater Western Sydney (‘Giants’) v Sydney Swans - AFL fixture
Overnight Sydney
Sunday 16 March – Sydney
Local media - Irish Radio Sydney
City of Sydney Saint Patrick’s Reception
Town Hall
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Family Day Hyde Park
Meeting with Mr Barnaby Joyce MP, Minister for Agriculture
Depart: Melbourne
Overnight Melbourne
Monday 17 March – Melbourne & Sydney
Business Panel Breakfast, Athenaeum Club
Meeting with Irish Community, Celtic Club
Enterprise Ireland Client Lunch
Media Slot
Depart for Sydney
Depart Sydney Opera House for Greening of Sydney Opera House
Overnight Sydney
Tuesday 18 March – Sydney
Depart from or Sydney Airport (international)
Arrive Wellington
Meeting with Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries
Briefing Dinner with delegates
Overnight Wellington
Wednesday 19 March
Meeting – Marine Institute / Global Research Alliance Greenhouse Gases
Ministry for Primary Industries
Depart: Wellington
Arrive: Auckland
Media Slot NZ Herald
Meet Sir Bob Harvey and CEO Rod Mahler - ‘Events Team’ (Americas Cup)
Community Event hosted by Minister
Media – Ireland calling
Thursday 20 March
Breakfast Meeting with Tourist Industry Association
Meeting Spirit of New Zealand
Meeting Fonterra
Depart for Airport
Friday 21 March
Arrive Dublin