Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to growing Ireland’s exports in all foreign markets, and expanding our trade footprint outside our main trading partners. As part of the Government’s trade promotion strategy, Saudi Arabia has been identified as a priority market with significant potential for Irish companies. Currently, Ireland’s trade with Saudi Arabia amounts to almost €900 million per annum. I very much welcome the establishment of the Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council, as a joint venture between it and the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry. I believe it will provide an avenue for practical and useful assistance to Irish companies seeking to break into the Saudi market. The council will also offer real potential to further develop trade links and enhance business opportunities for companies in both countries.

The Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council was formally launched at a ceremony in Riyadh in June attended by the Irish co-chair of the council, Mr. Joseph Lynch, and his Saudi counterpart, Mr. Abdullah Al-Mohty, president of the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry. I understand that preparations are continuing for holding the inaugural session of the council either later this year or in early 2013.

Ireland and our EU partners have an active discussion with Saudi Arabia within the framework of the EU-Gulf co-operation council on a wide range of issues, including human rights. The EU also regularly raises with Saudi Arabia its concerns about the use of the death penalty in the kingdom and encourages the Saudi authorities to further consider ways to reduce the application of the death penalty that could lead to a de facto moratorium on executions.

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