Catherine Murphy
Question:133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Irish-Norway relations. [4077/24]
View answerTuesday, 30 January 2024
Questions (133)
Written answers
Ireland and Norway enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We share unique historical connections as well as growing people-to-people links. In the past few years, Ireland’s relationship with Norway has been revitalised through the Global Ireland Strategy for the Nordic Region to 2025. The Nordic Strategy has provided a framework for Ireland to deepen our relationship with Norway and its neighbours across a spectrum of areas including politically and in the areas of trade, tourism, the environment and culture.
On a political level, our bilateral relationship with Norway is excellent. Norway is a likeminded partner on many international issues. We cooperate actively on the world stage to support our shared values, such as upholding international law and the importance of multilateralism. Ireland and Norway worked closely together during our recent UN Security Council term. Our countries successfully led negotiations on the renewal of the vital Syria Humanitarian cross-border resolution, which ensured the continuation of the UN's cross-border aid operation on the Turkey-Syria border. Then Minister Simon Coveney and Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt made a joint visit to Turkey and the Syrian Border crossing in June 2022.
Ireland is appreciative of Norway’s efforts and role in facilitating energy security for Europe and showing solidarity with European partners such as ourselves at this challenging time. Ireland sources a significant amount of our gas supply from Norway. In recent years, there has been growing collaboration in renewable energy, and several Norwegian companies have made important investments in wind energy in Ireland.
Ireland also engages with Norway on Arctic issues, which are becoming increasingly prominent and relevant to Ireland, particularly in terms of climate change, energy, and the changing geopolitical landscape. This week our Ambassador to Norway will attend a major conference on Arctic issues in Trømso (Arctic Frontiers 29 January – 1 February).
In December 2023, Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister of State for Disability, had a constructive study visit to Norway on the provision of digital and assistive technologies with a delegation from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the HSE, and the National Disability Authority.
Through our Embassy in Oslo and our State Agencies Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia based in Stockholm and Copenhagen we are deepening our trade with Norway. According to the latest CSO released in 2023 total trade between Ireland and Norway was worth €5.9 billion in 2021, with the trading balance firmly weighted in Ireland's favour. Several Norwegian companies have investments and operations in Ireland notably in the fisheries sector as well as the expanding renewable energy sector.
Norway and Ireland are now more connected than ever with direct routes between Dublin and the capital Oslo and Dublin and Norway’s second city, Bergen. As part of the European Economic Area for thirty years now, Norway is well integrated into the Single Market. I look forward to further progress in our economic, trading and people-to-people links in 2024.