Willie Penrose
Question:109. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken recently with his South African counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44213/18]
View answerWednesday, 24 October 2018
Questions (109)
Written answers
I can confirm that I have not spoken recently with the Foreign Minister of South Africa, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu. While I met with a number of my counterparts during the United Nations General Assembly in September, I did not meet with Foreign Minister Sisulu, as a meeting between Ireland and South Africa was held at Head of State or Government level between the Taoiseach and President Ramaphosa.
In October last year, I travelled to Pretoria to co-chair the 5th Session of the South Africa-Ireland Partnership Forum, along with Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Luwellyn Landers. The forum is a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the close relationship and ties between South Africa and Ireland, offering the chance to also look towards future cooperation in areas such as agriculture, education, the energy sector, trade and investment and multilateralism.
Officials in my Department engage regularly with South Africa, primarily through the Irish Embassy in Pretoria, and with the Embassy of South Africa in Dublin. The South Africa-Ireland Partnership Forum is a valuable part of that regular engagement, with officials from Ireland and South Africa scheduled to meet in that format next month for a mid-term review of the partnership. That review will inform the next meeting at Ministerial level.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 98.