Minister Martin welcomes participants and media to the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh

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Minister Martin welcomes participants and media to the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh 

Full details available at www.dfa.ie

On the eve of the Global Irish Economic Forum, which is to be held at Farmleigh tomorrow and Saturday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., said: 

“I want to extend the warmest of welcomes to the over 180 leading global Irish business figures who will be participating at the Forum in Farmleigh, as well as the over 100 members of the domestic and international media who will cover the event in the coming two days.  

Never before has our government brought together, in one place, such a truly global network of Irish connected business talents.  Our purpose this weekend is clear: to offer ideas on how to address the economic challenges that confront us; and to establish a new and more dynamic relationship between Ireland and its global community.

The range of experience which the participants bring to the Forum is an immense resource and the Forum’s programme has been designed to encourage maximum engagement.  The ideas and initiatives that will emerge will be an invaluable addition to the work the Government is already undertaking to reposition our economy for the future.

The Forum takes place at a key moment for the development of our country, and our efforts to secure our position at the heart of the EU and of the global economy.  It demonstrates our intent to fully address the current economic challenges and to harness in those efforts the vital resource that is our global community of some 70 million people.”

Note for Editors:  The Global Irish Economic Forum was announced by Minister Martin last April.  Participation is by invitation only, through a personal letter from the Taoiseach. Full details of the programme, a list of participants and other useful information is available on the Forum’s official website, www.globalirishforum.ie.  The majority of those in attendance are drawn from countries with a significant Irish community and from countries where Irish people have been successful in business. They will be joined at Farmleigh by the Taoiseach and the Cabinet. The leaders of the Opposition have also been invited, as have a number of leading Irish based business figures.

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17 September 2009

Press Office