146 Mr. Boylan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the impact on foreign investment and trade here arising out of the Government's participation in EXPO 2000. [23253/01]

I would like to place my reply to this question within the overall context in which the Government decided in favour of Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000.

Consideration was given to the case for Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000 by the Foreign Earnings Committee, FEC. The FEC was of the view that participation at Hanover could not be justified on trade or investment promotion grounds but acknowledged that failure to participate, against a background of participation by all other EU member states, could be damaging to Ireland's overall relations with Germany. The decision to participate was therefore taken on broader foreign policy and cultural grounds.