Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had on new embassies opening here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16237/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I warmly welcome the recent decisions by New Zealand and Peru to open resident Embassies in Dublin.

Working with like-minded countries to achieve our common goals has always been a cornerstone of our foreign policy. Resident Embassies are an important resource in this regard as they allow us to deepen our understanding of the local context and to communicate clearly and effectively our priorities and concerns.

The positive decisions taken by two important international partners to open Embassies here reflect the increasing economic, political and people to people links that Ireland enjoys with both countries. We share values, co-operating closely constructively within the UN on global priorities such as climate change and human rights. We also enjoy growing bilateral interests, including increased trade. Ireland’s place at the heart of the EU is now of growing importance to our international partners.

My New Zealand counterpart, Murray McCully, visited Dublin in January and we discussed then the possibility of his government deciding to open an Embassy here. I am delighted that Minister McCully announced on 24th March that New Zealand will open an Embassy in Dublin. This decision testifies to the ever growing political, economic and cultural links between our two countries. As Minister McCully noted when he announced the decision to open an Embassy, our countries enjoy a very warm relationship which is underpinned by our shared values. We work closely together on issues such as climate change, disarmament, and human rights, and are also both members of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative. The new Embassy will help us to deepen our friendship, strengthen our co-operation and further develop our trade and economic links.

The announcement by Peru’s government of its decision to establish an Embassy in Dublin was made shortly before President Higgins made an official visit to Peru. When the President, accompanied by my colleague Minister Varadkar, met with Peru’s President, Foreign Minister and other Ministers, the decision by Peru to establish an Embassy in Dublin was warmly welcomed. My Peruvian counterpart, Ricardo Luna Mendoza, extended to me recently St. Patrick’s Day greetings and he took that opportunity to express his strong conviction that the opening of an Embassy of Peru in Dublin will contribute to enhancing our bilateral relations and also to our collaboration on common global interests such as democracy, human rights, the rule of law and trade. I share fully Minister Luna’s objectives and I look forward to working with him and his officials in the period ahead.