Paul Donnelly
Question:40. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he spoke formally with his Singapore counterpart during 2023. [1144/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (40)
Written answers
Under the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, my Department aims to further deepen bilateral relations with South East Asia, and particularly with Singapore in light of its significant global and regional role. The bilateral relationship between Singapore and Ireland is strong and growing. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. As small, outward-looking countries committed to multilateralism and the rule of law, Ireland and Singapore are likeminded on many global issues. Singapore is Ireland’s largest trading partner in the sub-region and Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Bord Bia all have offices in Ireland House in Singapore, co-located with Ireland's Embassy.
There were a number of other Ministerial-level engagements between Ireland and Singapore in 2023. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, attended a reception of the Forum of Small States (FOSS) hosted by Minister Balakrishnan during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in September. In November, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, visited Singapore as part of an Enterprise Ireland trade mission and attended the Singapore Fintech Festival. During this visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill held a bilateral meeting with Senior Minister of State for National Development and for Communications and Information, H.E. Mr. Tan Kiat How.
As Taoiseach, I visited Singapore in July 2022 as part of a working visit to Asia. During this visit, I met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. At this meeting, we discussed global post-pandemic economic recovery, regional security and Russia's war in Ukraine. I also attended a FOSS reception hosted by Minister Balakrishnan during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in September 2022.
As well as bilateral engagement, we engage with Singapore through the Association of South East Asian States (ASEAN), the Small Advanced Economies Initiative, the Forum of Small States, the United Nations and through the European Union.
Ireland's Embassy in Singapore engages both bilaterally and in conjunction with the EU Delegation to advance the EU and Ireland’s interests and to advocate on human rights and political issues of interest. Singapore remains a key partner in the region and I look forward to continued high-level engagement in the period to come.