Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.

I travelled to Canada between 3-6 May. This was the first visit to Canada by a serving Taoiseach in more than a decade, and provided an opportunity to develop and strengthen the important bilateral relationship between our two nations, who share deep historic ties, and enjoy strong trading relations. Over the centuries, Canada has been an important destination for Irish immigrants. Today, over four and a half million Canadians - more than 14% of the country's population - claim Irish ancestry.

During my visit I had a series of engagements with political, business and civic society representatives in Montreal and Toronto, and met with a number of existing and potential new IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies.

These engagements provided very useful opportunities for me to promote Ireland as a location for trade and investment, as well as to emphasise our commitment to the EU and to outline Ireland's priorities in the context of Brexit.

While in Montreal, I met with Prime Minister Trudeau. We discussed the trade relationship between Ireland and Canada and Ireland's strengths as a location for trade and investment. We also considered ways to further strengthen the economic and trade relationship between our two countries, and agreed to prioritise the opportunities offered by the CETA trade agreement.

I also updated the Prime Minister on Ireland's Brexit priorities and outlined to him the current position in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister reiterated to me the Canadian Government's continued support for the Northern Ireland peace process.

Also in Montreal, I attended a business lunch with senior members of the Montreal business community, where I met with potential and current investors in Ireland. I also visited the School of Irish studies at Concordia University where I met with members of the Irish Diaspora.

In Toronto, I addressed an Enterprise Ireland event, and also an event hosted by the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce, both of which provided me opportunities to meet with current and potential investors in Ireland. I addressed a Tourism Ireland event and visited Ireland Park, the Irish Famine memorial park in Toronto. I also paid a courtesy call on the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell. My Programme concluded with a meeting with members of the Board of the Irish Canada Immigration Centre and other representatives of the Irish Diaspora, and an event with representatives of the Ireland Fund in Canada.

This was a very successful visit which I believe will provide a platform to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Ireland and Canada - and I expect will be further enhanced during the trade mission to Canada that will be led by Minister Mitchell O'Connor later this month (30 May to 02 June).

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I met with Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Negotiator for Brexit, in Government Buildings on Thursday 11 May. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Agriculture, and the Minister of State for European Affairs. The meeting provided an opportunity - following the European Council's adoption of the EU negotiating guidelines and in advance of agreement on the more detailed negotiating directives - to thank Mr Barnier for his openness to Ireland in relation to our particular concerns arising from Brexit and to highlight our thoughts about the process ahead. We discussed the serious implications in relation to peace and stability in Northern Ireland and the border, and for the Irish economy, particularly the fisheries and agri-food sector.

I commended Mr. Barnier on his address to the Oireachtas that morning and expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate on behalf of the EU 27, and to take account of Ireland's particular concerns. Mr Barnier stressed the complexities of the issues involved in the negotiations and outlined his intention to be firm but fair. He committed to ensuring that the Task Force remains accessible to all Member States - and especially to Ireland, given our unique concerns.