Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19543/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Accompanied by an official delegation, I made a working visit to Japan on 9 and 10 May. The key objectives for the visit were to take forward the Ireland-Japan bilateral agenda, including on political, economic and regulatory issues and to promote business links between the two countries. The visit also afforded a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views on the range of current international issues of interest to both countries.

The central element of the visit was my meeting and working dinner with Foreign Minister Aso. Minister Aso was accompanied by Junior Minister Yamanaka, who has responsibility for Europe. Our talks covered a wide range of issues, including political and economic relations, East Asian Regional issues, UN and current international issues. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan, and we agreed that both sides should work on proposals to mark this important occasion.

During our talks I briefed Minister Aso on recent developments in the Irish economy and the prospects for further developing the growing business links between Ireland and Japan. We both welcomed the progress being made towards finalisation of a bilateral Working Holiday Visa Programme, which will boost two-way youth exchange, and the re-introduction of the Intra-company transfer scheme to help facilitate Japanese business transfers. I raised the issue of market access to Japan for Irish beef and oysters.

On regional and international issues, we discussed Japan's relations with China, the Six-Party Talks process in the Korean peninsula, the Iran Nuclear issue, the proposed US-India Agreement on civilian nuclear technology and the situation in Burma/Myanmar. We also discussed UN issues. The opportunity to hear at first hand the Japanese viewpoint on current issues and challenges was most useful.

I also addressed the Japan Ireland Economic Association, where I met over 100 prominent business people and highlighted Ireland as a place to do business and the promotion of Irish Foreign Direct Investment into Japan. I availed of this occasion to make a presentation on behalf of the Taoiseach to Mr. Toshiro Shimoyama, former Chairman of Olympus Corporation, for his personal contribution to Japan-Ireland relations and for the investment in Ireland by Olympus, which has operated a life sciences facility in County Clare since 1982. A most useful meeting during my visit was with 13 members of the Japanese Diet, including former Justice Minister Ms Moriyama, who is the founder of the Japan-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship League.