Liam Burke
Ceist:65 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Marine the reason for his recent visit to Iran; and the results, if any, which he received there.
Written Answers. - Iranian Visit.
There were a number of reasons for my recent visit to Iran. In particular my visit was intended to follow up on the Second Commission for Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Co-operation between Ireland and Iran with particular emphasis on fisheries; to assess at first hand with the various Ministries and companies the market opportunities in Iran for Ireland related to the fisheries sector; to set a solid foundation to enable exporters in Ireland to deal quickly and efficiently with Iranian companies; to enhance Iranian/Irish relationships to the economic benefit of Ireland and to establish, if possible, a precise and wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding on fisheries.
I am pleased to report to the House that my visit had a number of positive outcomes.
At a meeting with the President of Iran, Mr Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani, I discussed with him the prospects for closer economic links between Ireland and Iran.
During a meeting with Mr Natege Nouri, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, we discussed the need for a better balance in trade between Ireland and Iran. Mr Nouri also accepted an invitation from the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil to visit Ireland.
At a meeting with Mr Gholamreza Faroozesh, Iran's most senior Minister for Economic Development, a formal Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between Ireland and Iran.
The main areas identified in the memorandum for possible future agreements include exports of Irish fish to Iran, sales of fishing vessels and gear, training of Iranian skippers and crews and major opportunities in airport construction and management, as well as the supply of equipment for seaports.
As far as fisheries in particular are concerned, the Iranians agreed to consider purchasing up to 10,000 tonnes of horse mackerel from Ireland and to consider the possibility of importing mackerel, herring, fresh and smoked salmon and tuna; the Iranians expressed interest in purchasing fishing gear and nets from Ireland; there was agreement to explore the possibility of Irish firms selling small fibre-glass fishing vessels to Iran and the possibility of an Irish company providing development and training programmes in Iranian fisheries was discussed.
These issues will now be pursued in detail with the relevant sectors in Ireland and with the Iranian authorities.