Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland's relationship with Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28882/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland established resident diplomatic relations with Russia in 1973. Relations with Russia are important to Ireland, as they are to our EU partners and to the European Union. A number of high level bilateral visits have taken place in recent years. During my visit to Moscow on 4 July 2005, in my capacity as special envoy of the UNSG on UN reform, I discussed Ireland-Russia relations in some depth with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. I availed of the opportunity to reactivate bilateral links following the Troika presidency period during which our focus was on EU relations with Russia. A number of regional issues of mutual interest also came up.

In line with understandings reached during my visit in July, a meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission for the development of business co-operation in Dublin at the start of next year is being actively prepared. A visit by the foreign affairs committee of the Russian Duma is also expected next year, in reciprocation of the visit of the Ceann Comhairle and a parliamentary delegation to Russia in late March and early April 2005. In recent years there have been regular ministerial visits to Russia for St. Patrick's Day. This year the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keefe, visited Moscow over this period.

Other significant recent visits include that by the Taoiseach in May 2004, as President of the European Council, for the EU-Russia summit. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited Ireland in April 2004 to meet with the EU Troika during our Presidency.

The total value of trade between Ireland and Russia in 2004 was €273 million and Russia is our 36th largest trade partner. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, visited Russia in May and June of this year, with Irish companies in the software and education sectors and in the meat sector, respectively. A range of cultural and educational links has also been developed.