Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the review of strategic relations with Germany; the objectives of the exercise; when it commenced; the policy areas being reviewed; the Departments and Ministers that are involved; the timelines involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13995/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 11 December last year I announced a review of Ireland’s relations with the Federal Republic of Germany and charged our ambassador in Berlin with undertaking the task. My aim in announcing the review was to strengthen this most important of relationships for Ireland both at the bilateral level and in the context of our common EU membership. The review – which began before Christmas - covers the full spectrum of our relations with Germany, including its political, economic, social and cultural aspects. This review is timely, given the enormous challenges that Ireland is facing in a rapidly changing EU and global environment.

Germany is the world’s fourth largest economy and a major player internationally as well as in the EU. It is the second-largest inward investor in Ireland; our fourth-largest merchandise trading partner and one with which we enjoy a trade surplus. Germany is also our third-largest source of tourism with some 650,000 visiting Ireland in 2016.

I am convinced that there is still scope to build further on these numbers.

All relevant government departments whose work touches on the terms of the review have been consulted, and their views are being fed into a draft report which is at an advanced stage of preparation. I intend publishing the review very shortly.