Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
14. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent visit of the President and the Minister of State to South America and the estimated impact on relations and trade between Ireland and Chile, Brazil and Argentina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44910/12]
View answerPresident Michael D. Higgins, accompanied by Mr Joe Costello T.D., the Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Trade and Development, recently concluded an official visit to Chile, Brazil and Argentina. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to build upon existing links with these three countries. The busy schedule included comprehensive meetings with the Presidents of each country visited, as well as contacts with Irish communities, and business engagements.
In all contacts, President Higgins and Minister Costello availed fully of opportunities to promote Ireland as a stable and desirable investment, business and education partner. In Chile, a business network event was hosted by the Embassy of Ireland and was attended by Irish companies and their local partners. The programme in Argentina also had a business component with the Irish State Agencies and Irish companies participating in a business event hosted by Enterprise Ireland.
Brazil, now the world’s sixth largest economy, is a priority market under the Government’s Trade Strategy. President Higgins’s visit, and the accompanying Enterprise Ireland mission of 42 companies and third level institutions led by Minister Costello, raised Ireland’s profile in this key high growth market. A number of agreements with Brazilian partners were finalised, including announcements of export contracts secured by Irish companies and agreements signed between third level education institutions. Another key event was the launch of the participation of Irish third-level institutions in a Brazilian scholarship programme that focuses on Science and Technology. Under this programme, we look forward to up to 4,000 Brazilian students studying in Ireland at under-graduate level over the next four years, as well as up to 1,500 post-graduate students.
The President’s programme included other opportunities to build Ireland’s profile in South America. The President delivered well-received addresses at the University of Diego Portales in Chile, and at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. President Higgins also addressed a seminar in Chile organised in connection with next January’s European Union – Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit, and was the keynote speaker at a seminar in Buenos Aires on migration from Ireland to Argentina. The programme also recognised the commitment to human rights protection and promotion that Ireland and these three countries share.
I look forward to bilateral contacts increasing with Chile, Brazil and Argentina. I am confident that such links will include greater business ties but will also encourage deeper political and cultural contacts as well as a wide-range of people-to-people connections. Increased contacts in all areas will bring related benefits in terms of more trade, investment and ultimately jobs and prosperity.
