Subscriber OnlyInside Politics Newsletter

Golden visas scrapped as Ministers get St Patrick’s Day golden ticket to promote Ireland Inc worldwide

Inside Politics: Ministers will visit 74 cities in 44 countries on behalf of ‘Ireland Inc’

The Cabinet yesterday approved an extensive programme ever of ministerial trips abroad for St Patrick’s Day. Photograph: Getty Images

Harry McGee's face
Harry McGee
Wed Feb 15 2023 - 07:34

Isn’t it ironic that on the day the Government scraps golden visas to millionaire immigration investments it also hands out golden tickets to Ministers to travel to the most far-flung places imaginable to promote that once-a-year phenomenon: Ireland Inc.

The Cabinet yesterday approved an extensive programme ever of ministerial trips abroad for St Patrick’s Day, with 36 ministers going to 74 cities in 44 countries.

As Jennifer Bray reports it’s the biggest exodus ever. Ministers and departments produce reams of reports after these events that point to the value of the unique opportunity it presents for Ireland to grab attention on the day. It’s also a big deal for the diaspora abroad. And for sure, the shamrock ceremony in Washington reminds you of the punchline for an advert for a certain credit card.

It’s to do with proportionality, however. There was a sense of excess about these trips during the Celtic Tiger years. They were pared back in the last decade. Now they seem to be creeping back to OTT territory.

READ MORE

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 (more modest) 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 2019 here.

By 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 been closed down with immediate effect because 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.”

Simon Harris had a busy day yesterday. As Conor Lally reports 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.

Cost of living

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. Here’s my own take on what might be, and what might not be.

Sarah Burns has an excellent report on a 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.

Best reads

We would not swap a Miriam Lord column for all the TV spy cameras in China.

Gideon Rachman has a really well argued opinion piece on why the West should not ship the blame for the war in Ukraine.

Has Mick Wallace got himself into a bit of bother over saying he had three wine bars in Dublin in a video interview? The Left grouping in Brussels thinks so, as he did not declare them in the register of interests for an MEP.

Denis Naughten announced he will retire from politics at the next election. Here’s a profile of him.

An interesting story by Cormac McQuinn on the ticket touting. Some French fans were paying markups that were the equivalent of a vintage bottle of Hennessy cognac for the pleasure of seeing their team come out second best.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Sarah Burns report that an advisory body has suggested offering tax breaks to landlords who offer better terms to tenants.

Playbook

Dáil:

  • 10:00: The Social Democrats keep the cost-of-living debate going with a motion on energy costs and windfall taxes.
  • 12:00: Leaders’ Questions.
  • 14:50: First piece of Legislation of the day, the Civil Defence Bill 2023. It’s at second stage.
  • 16:30: That’s followed by the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019, which is scheduled for three hours of debate.
  • 19:30: Votes on motions and divisions of the week.

Seanad:

Committees:

  • 9.30am: Committee on Health: Discussions on issues relating to nursing home charges with officials from the Department of Health.
  • 13:30: Minister for Finance Michael McGrath will appear before the finance committee to discuss revised estimates for his department as well as for the agencies under its control. He is also likely to talk on broader budgetary matters, including the cost-of-living package.