Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to foster relations between Ireland and Argentina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29344/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Longstanding and close bilateral ties have characterised relations between Ireland and Argentina since resident diplomatic missions were opened in both Dublin and Buenos Aires in 1948.

The close nature of our relations is evident in the number of high-level visits to Argentina in recent years. In 1995, former President Robinson paid a State visit to Argentina, while President McAleese paid a State visit in 2004. In 2001, the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., made the first official visit to Argentina. There have been Cabinet-level visits for St. Patrick's Day events in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

In March 2006, the L.E. Eithne visited Argentina and, on its return to Ireland, transported a statue of Admiral Brown, the Mayo-born founder of the Argentine navy. In September 2006, the Argentine Minister for Defence, Ms. Nilda Garré, and the Chief of Staff of the Argentine Navy, Admiral Jorge Godoy, visited Dublin to participate in the unveiling ceremony for this statue, which took place in the presence of the Taoiseach.

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of Admiral Brown, a lengthy programme of events took place in Argentina from 1-9 March 2007. An Irish delegation led by Major General Dermot Earley, the then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, and Commodore Frank Lynch, Flag Officer Commanding of the Naval Service, took part in the commemoration ceremonies. In the context of this anniversary, the Argentine Navy tall ship, the Fragata Libertad, visited Ireland for 10 days from 16 June to 26 June 2007, docking in Galway and Dublin.

Consultations between senior officials of my Department and their Argentine counterparts also take place on a regular basis, most recently in Dublin in May this year.

Argentina has the largest population of Irish descent outside the English-speaking world, estimated at 400,000. In recognition of the close historical and cultural ties between Ireland and Argentina, on 7 August 2006, my Department announced first-time grants totalling €42,000 to three Irish-Argentine associations. The Fahy Club received a grant of €15,000, as did the Federation of Irish-Argentine Associations, while the Southern Cross newspaper received €12,000.

Trade relations between Ireland and Argentina are also strong, with total trade in 2006 amounting to approximately €110 million.

I very much welcome the continuing close nature of the relationship between Ireland and Argentina and I would certainly wish to see the bilateral relationship develop further under the new administration of President-Elect Fernández de Kirchner.