§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many visits to the United Kingdom by Mary McAleese, President of the Republic of Ireland, have been organised in conjunction with the Irish Embassy. [HL5123]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Her Majesty's Government and the Irish Embassy have co-operated in the organisation of 10 visits by President McAleese to the United Kingdom since her inauguration as President in 1997. We understand that the President of Ireland has also made a number of private visits, on which the FCO does not keep records.