Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to invite his Swedish counterpart to Dublin in 2024. [6225/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I formally invited Minister Billström to Dublin when I wrote to him on 13 July 2023 congratulating him on the successful Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Ireland and Sweden share excellent relations, featuring a long history of aligned values, and close and likeminded work at United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) level.

At the UN, our cooperation in the field of peacekeeping has been a focus for many years. As EU partners, we cooperate in a number of areas including support for Ukraine, EU Enlargement, Human Rights, the rule of law, and the European Green Deal.

Indeed, as Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström noted just last week, the increased Nordic-Baltic plus Ireland coordination at Prime Minister and Foreign Minister level in Brussels whereby the Taoiseach, and I, meet our Nordic counterparts before the full meeting, has been a new and valuable aspect to European Council meetings. In addition to these regular meetings, most recently I held a bilateral meeting with Minister Billström during the October Foreign Affairs Council.

Ireland launched an ambitious Strategy for the Nordic Region in 2021, which has served to provide a framework for deepening linkages to the region.

Also in 2021, the Swedish Government took the decision to re-open the Swedish Embassy in Dublin, which I warmly welcome. Sweden’s new Ambassador to Ireland, HE Ms Lina Holmström-van der Weyden presented her credentials three weeks ago, on 23 January at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The new Embassy will further strengthen our bilateral links, and links with the wider Nordic region as we seek to deliver the ambitious goals set out in our Nordic Strategy.

Relations with Sweden continue to grow. In November 2023, Minister of State for European Affairs, Peter Burke, T.D., welcomed his Swedish equivalent, Ms Jessika Roswall, to Dublin for bilateral discussions. Minister for Climate and Enterprise, Ms Romina Pourmokhtari and Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications met in Dublin last week to discuss cooperation on renewable energy.

I understand that the Swedish Embassy is currently exploring options with regard to opening new premises in Dublin. Officials in my Department will continue to liaise with the Embassy and explore opportunities that may arise to invite Minister Billström to Dublin in the coming time.