Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (16th March 2017) concluded her trip to the American Mid-West as part of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day schedule.

Minister Mitchell O’Connor visited St. Louis and Chicago as part of an extensive enterprise, political, press and community and cultural engagements itinerary. The Minister’s planned trip to New York was not possible due to prevailing poor weather conditions.

As part of the visit the Minister met with IDA and Enterprise Ireland clients and with firms that the IDA and EI are in exploratory talks with regarding establishing in Ireland.

In St. Louis the Minister addressed a roundtable meeting with St. Louis firms, met with Honorary Consul Joe McGlynn and attended a reception in honour of former US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, hosted by the Mayor of St. Louis, Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive, Steve Stenger.

In Chicago the Minister met with community and business leaders and attended and made an address at the Chicago Irish Fellowship Dinner, the largest annual social and networking event of the Irish community in Chicago. She met Senator George Mitchell, Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Senator Billy Lawless among a large number of other politicians and key dignitaries at a number of events during her trip. The Minister also met with key people involved in immigration issues. She visited the offices of the Consulate General to hear of the work being done there.

Speaking from Chicago at the end of her trip, Minister Mitchell O’Connor said: “St. Patrick’s Day is a wonderful and unique opportunity for a small country like Ireland to market our great nation abroad. I’m delighted with how successful this trip has been. I met with many companies interested in setting up businesses in Ireland. My message to them was clear; ‘Ireland is open for business and our value proposition is stronger than ever. We are a committed member of the EU with all of the benefits that brings.’ I pointed out the benefits and made a strong case for companies to establish in regional locations in Ireland. I also met with a number of Irish companies interested in doing business with American companies. I am confident that we will see future jobs in Ireland as a result of this engagement.”