THE TÁNAISTE’S US trip began yesterday when she met members of the Irish-American media in Chicago. Mary Coughlan later attended an American-Ireland members’ dinner.
Ms Coughlan had been due to to fly to Boston on Sunday and undertake a series of engagements there on Monday, before leaving for Chicago yesterday as part of the Enterprise Ireland mission.
She is accompanied by three officials from the Department of Education, including secretary general Brigid McManus, who was due to replace her for the full itinerary when Fine Gael withdrew a Dáil pairing arrangement because the trip coincided with Dáil questions on the Fás controversy.
Two Irish-based Enterprise Ireland officials are also part of the entourage.
Today, Ms Coughlan will attend an Education Ireland breakfast for trade mission contacts and high school counsellor contacts.
There will be photo opportunities with her for higher education institutes and guests and an institutes of technology briefing. The itinerary states that the “afternoon and evening are free for meetings in Chicago or travel to St Louis”.
The National Association for College Admission Counselling event will take place all day tomorrow in St Louis.
Ms Coughlan will have lunch in St Louis with the National Association of High School Scholars and their Irish partner higher-education institutes. She will also review the Education Ireland participation at the admission counselling association.
She will have dinner with Irish honorary consul Joe McGlynn, senior business members of the St Louis Irish-American community, and one representative from each Irish university and college.
The Tánaiste returns to Ireland on Friday.
