Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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615. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the dates in 2015 that he met formally with the ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I engage as much as possible with all Ambassadors accredited to Ireland as they represent vital lines of communication to their governments and are the key source of information for their countries on developments in Ireland. Members of the Government, Ministers of State, officials from my department and indeed all government departments and agencies engage with Ambassadors and their staff regularly, including with the British Ambassador. In terms of engaging with the British Ambassador during this year, I and my officials worked in very close co-operation with him to plan the visit of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the west of Ireland last May, during which I represented the Government for their programme in Co. Sligo. The well-established and positive relationship between my Department and the British Embassy contributed in no small part to the success of this important visit.

Ambassador Chilcott also accompanies and advises senior British government figures when I meet with them, including the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. Also, I often meet with Ambassadors accredited to Ireland when participating at business events and at conferences. For example, I spoke at the British Irish Association conference in Cambridge on 5/6 September and met with Ambassador Chilcott on that occasion.

My exchanges, and those of officials from my Department, with the Ambassador and with his Embassy colleagues have focused on enhancing British-Irish relations, on Northern Ireland and on EU and international matters including the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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616. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the dates in 2015 that he met formally with the ambassador of the United States of America to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34461/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I engage as much as possible with all Ambassadors accredited to Ireland as they represent vital lines of communication to their governments and are the key source of information for their countries on developments in Ireland. Members of the government, Ministers of State, officials from my department and indeed all government departments and agencies engage with Ambassadors and their staff regularly, including with the US Ambassador. I have known Ambassador Kevin O’Malley since September 2014, when I participated at his swearing in ceremony with Vice-President Biden in Washington DC and subsequently at his presentation of credentials to President Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin. I have met him on a regular basis since then – both formally and socially - and will continue to do so.

My diary records that so far in 2015, I met formally with Ambassador O’Malley on 6 January, 8 April and 21 April. Furthermore, as the primary representative of the United States, Ambassador O’Malley accompanies and advises senior political figures when on official visits to Ireland. For instance Ambassador O’Malley was present when I met the Speaker of the US House of Representatives and his delegation at Farmleigh House in July 2015.

While topics for discussion vary depending on the meeting, the issues of Northern Ireland and US immigration matters have featured consistently on all occasions, along with an ongoing focus on developing further the excellent trade, business, political and people to people relations between Ireland and the United States.