Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to meet the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Stephen Smith MP, to help strengthen ties between Australia and Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14044/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Relations between Ireland and Australia are excellent. Visits and contacts take place on a regular basis.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D., acting on my behalf, met with Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith M.P., on 3 December 2008, while both Ministers were in Oslo for the signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. A range of bilateral and international issues were discussed at that meeting.

More recently the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuív T.D., met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 16 March in Australia and both bilateral and international issues were discussed. Although there are no firm plans at the moment, I would hope to have an opportunity to meet Minister Smith in the near future.