Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2015
507. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on meetings held and topics discussed during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45465/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI visited the United Arab Emirates on the 7th and 8th of December (arriving there late on December 6th).
I held a number of meetings with senior Emirati officials. These were: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed AL Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister for Finance; Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Culture, Youth, and Social Development; and Sultan Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy.
A number of these officials have visited Ireland in recent years and others have supported efforts to build Ireland’s profile in the UAE and to develop the relationship between the two countries. For example, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has visited Ireland twice as Foreign Minister and Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was Patron of the first Global GAA Games, which was held in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
I also met the Irish Business Council in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Irish Business Network.
Ireland’s relationship with the UAE has deepened in recent years, including through regular high level visits and the opening of resident embassies in both directions. Our trade now stands at more than €1 billion and there are some 8,000 Irish citizens living in the UAE. Given the strength and breadth of the relations between the two countries, my discussions with local interlocutors covered a very wide range of topics.
While the detail of these discussions is confidential, I can confirm that the issues covered included: the crisis in Syria and its regional implications; the challenge of Islamist extremism in the region and in Europe; the conflict in Yemen; the nuclear deal with Iran and human rights.
Our discussions also covered the economic relationship between Ireland and the UAE and how to further develop that relationship, including in the areas of health and education services, SME development, aviation and financial services.
