General Information s15

Economic Conference Dublin, Ireland May 27-29, 2009

GENERAL INFORMATION

PROGRAMME 26th May Arrival of Delegates and Registration 27th May Registration Full Day Meetings ½ Day Accompanying Persons’ Programme 28th May Full Day Meetings ½ Day Accompanying Persons’ Programme 29th May Excursion and Departures

A detailed program will be posted shortly on the OSCE PA Website at: www.oscepa.org and on www.oireachtas.ie

CONFERENCE VENUE All meetings will take place in: The Shelbourne Hotel St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel: +353 1 6634500 Fax: +353 1 6616006 www.theshelbourne.ie

CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT Mr. Martin Heffernan, Ms. Lorraine Lee Secretary, Interparliamentary Unit Interparliamentary Unit Houses of the Oireachtas Houses of the Oireachtas Leinster House Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 6183778 Tel: +353 1 6183686 Fax: +353 1 6184112 Fax: +353 1 6184112 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT Ms. Odile Lelarge Conference Co-ordinator International Secretariat of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Copenhagen, Denmark Tel: + 45 33 37 80 34 Fax: + 45 33 37 80 30 E-mail: [email protected]

ACCOMMODATION The Secretariat has made bookings with preferential rates with a number of hotels in the city centre, all of which are close to the conference venue. You are kindly requested to make your room booking directly with the hotels as soon as possible but not later than 17th April 2009. Please quote the booking code indicated on the form for preferential rates. Bookings received after the deadline will be subject to availability. Reservations must be guaranteed by use of a major credit card. Please send a copy of the Hotel Reservation Forms to: Ms. Odile Lelarge, International Secretariat of the OSCE PA Fax: + 45 33 37 80 30; e-mail: [email protected] And to Ms. Lorraine Lee, Conference Secretariat, Dublin Fax: +353 1 6184112; e-mail: [email protected]

All of the hotel room rates include breakfast, taxes and charges.

All payments for accommodation and personal costs should be made directly to the hotel upon departure.

The number of rooms held in each hotel being limited, reservation requests will be treated on a first-come first- served basis. Kindly note the cancellation policy for each hotel.

2 The Shelbourne Hotel (*****) St. Stephen’s Green Please quote booking reference: OREOREB Dublin 2 using the on-line booking service or email: King Room (Double) Rate: €270 [email protected] www.theshelbourne.ie Tel: +353 1 6634500 Other room types and rates available online. Cancellation policy: no charge if cancellation is made 24 hours or more before arrival.

The Burlington Hotel (****) Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Please quote booking reference: Block 204200. Single Room : €140 per night Email: [email protected] Double/twin room: €155 per night Tel: +353 1 6185600 Burlington Hotel cancellation policy: no charge is made for cancellations made 24 hours or more before arrival.

O’Callaghan Hotel Group

The Alexander Hotel (****) Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Single Room : €170 per room Double Room-:€185 per room Please quote booking reference: Oireachtas www.ocallaghanhotels.com Contact Ms. Maria Sainz at [email protected] The Davenport Hotel (****) Tel: +353 1 6073900 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Fax: +353 1 6615663 Single Room: €170 per room Double Room: €185 per room O’Callaghan Hotel Group cancellation policy: www.ocallaghanhotels.com Upon confirmation of a booking, a charge of one night’s room and taxes will be charged to an individual’s credit card and is non-refundable should the booking be cancelled. St Stephens Green Hotel (****) St Stephens Green, Dublin 2 Single Room: €170 per room Double Room: €185 per room www.ocallaghanhotels.com

The Mont Clare Hotel (***) Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Single Room: €145 per room Double Room: €160 per room www.ocallaghanhotels.com

3 TRANSPORTATION Dublin airport is located approximately 10 km north of Dublin city centre and is served by all major international airlines. For information on airline schedules, transport etc please see Dublin Airport’s website www.dublinairport.com .

Delegates are asked to make their own way from the airport to the hotels by taking a taxi or using public transport.

A taxi from Dublin airport to the city centre costs €25 approximately. The Aircoach service is available to/from the airport and costs €7 single and €12 return. For further details see www.aircoach.ie The Aircoach service serves the city centre and most of the major city centre hotels. The Airlink bus service serves the city centre area and is operated by Dublin Bus. Tickets to/from the airport cost €6 single or €10 return. For further details see www.dublinbus.ie Prepaid Airlink tickets can be bought at the Bus and Rail Information Desk and the Dublin Tourism Information Desk in the Arrivals Hall at Dublin Airport. Tickets for both the Aircoach and the Airlink services can also be purchased on board from the driver.

Transport will be provided to take delegates from the selected hotels to the conference venue and back as well as to all social functions and for the accompanying persons’ programme and excursions.

REGISTRATION Upon arrival, delegates are requested to register at the Registration Desk at The Shelbourne Hotel on 26th from 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm. The Registration Desk will also be available from 8.00 am on 27th May.

Participants may be required to show an official identification (passport or identity card) when registering. All participants will be required to wear identity badges to attend meetings and social events, as well as when using transportation services offered by the conference. INTERPRETATION Interpretation will be provided in six official languages of the OSCE (English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish). No translation service will be available. DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION All Embassies and High Commissions in Ireland will be notified of the meetings and will receive a copy of the programme. Participants wishing to reach their diplomatic representatives in Ireland can consult the listing available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website at www.dfa.ie . SECURITY All participants, including accompanying persons, staff and press will be required to wear their conference identity badges at all meetings and social functions and transportation INSURANCE Personal and medical insurance is the responsibility of individual participants. The OSCE PA and the Houses of the Oireachtas will not be responsible for any loss of luggage, personal effects or medical expenses.

4 VISAS Delegates, parliamentarians, staff and accompanying persons, attending the conference from countries outside of the European Union are advised to check on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if they need an entry visa: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=8777 and contact, if necessary, their nearest Irish Embassy or Irish Consulate for assistance with visas. Please see attached Annex I for a listing of Irish Embassies and Honorary Consulates who will assist with obtaining visas for the conference. Citizens of the United States of America and Canada do not require a visa provided the stay in Ireland does not exceed 90 days. Please note that a Schengen or UK visa or residence permission is not valid for travel to Ireland. If you are a national of a visa-required country you will need to apply for an Irish visa in advance of travel to Ireland. TIME Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time – GMT. Clocks are put forward 1 hour mid-March and back 1 hour at the end of October. During Summer time it stays light until as late as 23.00 hrs. DRESS Business attire is appropriate for meetings and most social events. Casual dress (jacket, no tie) will be appropriate for participating in the excursion. EXCURSION DAY On 29th May 2009 participants will be given the opportunity to historical and cultural sites in Dublin and Wicklow. ACCOMPANYING PERSONS’ PROGRAMME Two half day programmes will be available on 27th and 28th May. Accompanying persons are kindly requested to wear their identity badges at all times. CURRENCY AND BANKING The currency unit in Ireland is the Euro (€). Most major international currencies can be exchanged at banks, airports and in hotels. Banking hours are generally between 10.00- 16.30 Monday – Friday. ATM (cash) machines are widely available in banks, hotels and shopping centres. Debit cards (Laser and Maestro) and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are widely accepted. TELECOMMUNICATIONS Mobile phones: Only digital phones with GSM subscriptions and a roaming agreement will work in Ireland. Visitors should consult with their supplier before leaving.Pay phones: Easy-to-use country calling cards are widely available. ELECTRICITY SERVICE The standard electricity voltage in Ireland is 230/240 Volts a.c., nominal, at 50Hz, with plugs being of the 3 pin IS411 (BS 1363) type. A transformer and plug adaptor (to convert 2-pin plugs to the standard 3-pin plug) may be required. WEATHER Ireland has a mild, temperate climate with summer temperatures ranging from 15C/60F to 20C/70F. Rain showers can occur at any time of the year. SMOKE-FREE POLICY Ireland has implemented a smoking ban in the workplace. This means that smoking is forbidden in enclosed places of work in Ireland. This includes office blocks, various buildings, public houses/bars, restaurants, public transport and company vehicles (cars and vans).

5 ANNEX I – SPECIFIC VISA INFORMATION

SERBIA

Diplomatic Representation for Serbia is handled by the Embassy in Greece (Athens), while Consular Services are provided by the Honorary Consul in Belgrade

Embassy of Ireland in Athens Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Belgrade 7 Leoforos Vasileos Fruskogorska 1/II Konstantinou 11000 Belgrade 106 74 Athens Serbia Greece Tel: + 38 111 218 3581 Tel: +30-210-723-2771 Fax: + 38 111 303 6096 Fax: +30-210-729 3383 Honorary Consul Website: Ms. Ann Pesic www.embassyofireland.gr Ambassador His Excellency Antoin MacUnfraidh Second Secretary Caroline Phelan

ALBANIA

Diplomatic Representation for Albania is handled by the Embassy in Greece (Athens)

Embassy of Ireland in Athens 7 Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou 106 74 Athens Greece Tel: +30-210-723-2771 Fax: +30-210-729 3383 Website: www.embassyofireland.gr Ambassador His Excellency Antoin MacUnfraidh Second Secretary Caroline Phelan

AZERBAIJAN

Diplomatic Representations for Azerbaijan is handled by the Embassy in Turkey (Ankara)

Embassy of Ireland in Ankara Ugur Mumcu Caddesi No.88 MNG Binasi B Blok Kat 3 Gaziosmanpasa Ankara 06700 Turkey Tel: +90-312-446 6172 Fax: +90-312-446 8061 Website: www.embassyofireland.org.tr Ambassador His Excellency Tony Mannix First Secretary Philip Grant Third Secretary Fiona Nic Dhonnacha

6 BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN

Diplomatic Representation is handled by the Embassy in the Russian Federation (Moscow)

Embassy of Ireland in Moscow Visa Office in Moscow Grokholski Pereulok 5 Embassy of Ireland Moscow 129010 Grokholski Pereulok 5 Russian Federation Moscow 129010 Tel: +7-495-937 59 11 Russian Federation Fax: +7-495-6800 623 Tel: + 7 495 937 5900 Website: Fax: + 7 495 937 5902 www.embassyofireland.ru Email: [email protected] Ambassador Higher Executive Officer His Excellency Justin Harman Michael Stenson First Secretary Executive Officer Aidan Kirwan Ciara De Mora Third Secretary Executive Officer Peter O'Connor Caitriona Kirwan Executive Officer Teresa Sweeney

GEORGIA and ARMENIA

Diplomatic Representation to Georgia and Armenia is handled by the Embassy in Bulgaria (Sofia)

Embassy of Ireland in Sofia Platinum Business Centre 26-28 Bacho Kiro Street Sofia 1000 Bulgaria Tel: + 3592 985 34 25 Fax: + 3592 983 33 02 Website: www.embassyofireland.bg Ambassador His Excellency Geoffrey Keating

MOLDOVA

Diplomatic representation to Moldova is handled by the Embassy in Romania (Bucharest)

Embassy of Ireland in Bucharest 50 - 52 Buzesti St Floor 3 Sector 1 Bucharest 011015 Romania Tel: +40 21 3102131/141 Fax: + 40 21 311 2285 Website: www.embassyofireland.ro Ambassador His Excellency John Morahan First Secretary David Noonan Third Secretary Ruth Parkin

7 UKRAINE

Diplomatic representations to Ukraine are handled by the Embassy in the Czech Republic (Prague). There is an Honorary Consul in Kiev and usually people in Ukraine lodge their applications there rather than in Prague.

Embassy of Ireland in Prague Honorary Consul in Kyiv Velvyslanectvi Irska 44 Shchorsa Street Trziste 13 011 33 Kyiv 118 00 Praha Ukraine Czech Republic Telephone/Fax: Tel: +420-257-530-061 + 380 44 285 5902 Fax: +420-257-531-387 Honorary Consul: Website: Volodymyr Say www.embassyofireland.cz Public Opening Hours: Ambassador Monday - Thursday 10:00-13:00 His Excellency Donal Hamill Public Telephone Lines: Monday - Friday: 14:00-17:00 First Secretary Brian Flynn Third Secretary Ian Devine

MONTENEGRO

Diplomatic Representations for Montenegro is handled by the Embassy in Hungary (Budapest)

Embassy of Ireland in Budapest Bank Centre Szabadság tér 1054 Budapest Hungary Tel: +36-1-301-4960 Fax: +36-1-302-9599 Website: www.embassyofireland.hu Ambassador His Excellency Mr Martin Greene First Secretary Dermot McGauran