First Official Visit to Ireland by Welsh Leadership

The Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy M.P., and the newly elected First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales, Mr. Rhodri Morgan M.P., A.M., will begin an official visit to Ireland tomorrow (Thursday, 30 March 2000). This will be the first official visit here by the political leadership of Wales since devolution. Welcoming the visit, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., said that "it provides a valuable opportunity to underline the importance the Government attaches to developing a new relationship with Wales".

The Secretary of State and the First Secretary will be guests of honour at a luncheon hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Cowen, in Iveagh House on Friday, 31 March 2000. They will also pay courtesy calls on the President, Mrs. Mary Mc Aleese, and the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. In addition the Secretary of State and the First Secretary will hold talks with Mr. Joe Walsh T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food, and Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Minister of State will be accompanied by Mr. Dan Flinter and Mr. Seán Dorgan, the Chief Executives of Enterprise Ireland and the IDA respectively. Later the Secretary of State and First Secretary will meet the Chief Executive of Bord Fáilte, Mr. John Dully, at the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin Castle.

On Saturday, 1 April the Secretary of State and First Secretary will be guests of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Cowen, at the Ireland-Wales rugby international match in Lansdowne Road.Top