Inside Politics: Ministers will visit 74 cities in 44 countries on behalf of ‘Ireland Inc’
It’s noticeable that the three Green Ministers have all chosen long-haul trips. Eamon Ryan is going to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Roderic O’Gorman is going to Delhi, Mumbai and Dhaka. Catherine Martin is going to Los Angeles.
One big consideration about these trips is the carbon footprint. Back in 2019, the late Brian Hutton did a useful audit of the itinerary, basing it on Ministers travelling economy class, and travelling alone. Many will travel by business class with relatively big delegations. You can read Brian’s report from 2019By the way, designer Paul Scott has a wonderful interactive graphic map of the world accompanying Bray’s report which shows you which Minister is going where by hovering over the destination. The golden visa story is no less important. Arthur Beesley and Jack Horgan-Jones report that the €1.25 billion scheme has beenbecause of concerns within the Government of a surge in applicants from China to the Immigrant Investor Programme. They report that the programme opened residency in the State to non-Europeans with “at least €2 million” in personal wealth. They were in return required to invest €1 million in an Irish business or to make a €500,000 philanthropic donation or a €400,000 donation in certain cases. “All but 41 of the 1,316 applications to join in 2022 were from people in China, a record year for submission after speculation that the programme might be closed.”he attended the Oireachtas Justice Committee yesterday after Cabinet. In an exchange with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin of Labour – who suggested a Covid-style information campaign to combat misinformation and false propaganda – Harris condemned those who shouted “get them out” about refugees and asylum seekers as an intimidating mob.The recurring theme this week in Leinster House has been debate around the cost-of-living package, which is due next week. Yesterday, there was a debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling for more payments and for mortgage interest relief. Today it’s the turn of the Social Democrats. They are calling for implementation of a meaningful windfall tax on the profits of energy companies. Meanwhile there is much speculation about what the package will include and not include. It looks like the days are numbered for a lower 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath was in Brussels yesterday saying that the package would contain both universal and targeted measure, and would also have to be affordable.full-blooded exchange in the Dáil yesterday between the Government’s regular Sinn Féin basher Heather Humphreys and Sinn Féin’s regular Government basher Pearse Doherty. Ministers have so far remained tight-lipped about what might be in the package, and the overall cost. It’s unlikely to be close to the €4 billion plus committed last October. The key day will be tomorrow, Thursday, when Coalition leaders thrash out the details. The final package will be brought to Cabinet next Tuesday for approval.
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