The formal contract setting out the terms of Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000 was to-day (Thursday 18th February, 1999) signed by Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D. Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, and by Mr. Kieran McGowan, Ireland's Commissioner General for EXPO 2000.

Minister Kitt commented that it was exactly a year and a day since the Government had decided that Ireland would participate in EXPO 2000 and that, since then, much progress had been made in our preparations. "We have secured a site on the prestigious European Boulevard and now have an innovative, dynamic design for the Irish pavilion," Minister Kitt said.

Minister Kitt went on to say that a company had been recently selected to develop our website, and that work was well advanced on our logo for EXPO 2000.

The contract was signed in the Department of the Taoiseach which Minister Kitt described as particularly appropriate given that the Department now contains the Evie Hone stained glass window, The Four Provinces, which had formed part of the Irish Pavilion at the World Fair in New York in 1939.

Commissioner General McGowan said "I am very pleased to be associated with the project. As Chairman of the jury which selected the winning team to design the Irish pavilion, I was very impressed with the quality of the winning submission, and indeed the other shortlisted entries." He commented that in a sense his role had elements similiar to his previous IDA Ireland post, in that it involved the promotion of Ireland Inc. abroad.