Willie O'Dea
Ceist:168. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet his Canadian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 January 2019
Ceisteanna (168)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government engages frequently with the Canadian Government and Canadian elected representatives on all aspects of the Canada-Ireland relationship and on other issues of mutual concern.
There have been strong and sustained Canadian-Irish bilateral contacts in recent years, including the successful state visit by Prime Minister Trudeau in July 2017 and a follow up visit by the Taoiseach to Canada not long after. In 2018, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform met with the Canadian Finance Minister in January, while five Ministerial visits to Canada took place during February and March 2018, including Minister Griffin’s visit to St Johns and Toronto; an agriculture and food export promotion visit to Ottawa and Toronto led by Minister Creed; Minister Kyne’s attendance at a mining conference in Toronto; and St Patrick’s Day visits by Ministers Naughten and O’Donovan. Minister Regina Doherty attended the OECD Ministerial in Montreal in May, and Minister Cannon travelled to Canada twice in autumn last year. I fully expect this level of engagement to continue throughout 2019, including through the St. Patrick’s Day period.
I was delighted to address the Ireland Canada Business Association conference last November, to speak to the historic, and continuing strong and collaborative relations we enjoy with Canada, and the potential of our bilateral relationship in the coming years. While I haven’t as yet met my counterpart, I look forward to travelling to Canada, engaging with the Canadian Government, as well as visiting Ireland’s newly opened Consulate General in Vancouver, in the future.