Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2022
42. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 10 November 2022, if a Government decision was made to invite Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Ireland in advance of the President's invitation to Mr. da Silva on 31 October 2022; the date on which such a decision was made; the date on which the decision was communicated to the President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61258/22]
View answerIt is standard diplomatic practice for the President of Ireland to send letters of congratulations to newly elected Heads of State. Such letters are prepared on advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and may include open, general invitations to incoming Heads of State to pay a visit to Ireland.
In his recent letter of congratulations to President da Silva of Brazil, the President of Ireland extended an open, general invitation to the incoming Head of State to visit Ireland. Such a general, open invitation, which is extended as a matter of diplomatic courtesy, does not require a Government decision.
Brazil is an important partner for Ireland and one with which we share strong economic, historic and people-to-people links; Brazil is Ireland’s second largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and there are strong ties in terms of the Brazilian diaspora in Ireland and indeed the growing Irish community in Brazil.
