Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 10 November 2022, if a Government decision was made to invite Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Ireland in advance of the President's invitation to Mr. da Silva on 31 October 2022; the date on which such a decision was made; the date on which the decision was communicated to the President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61258/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is standard diplomatic practice for the President of Ireland to send letters of congratulations to newly elected Heads of State. Such letters are prepared on advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and may include open, general invitations to incoming Heads of State to pay a visit to Ireland.

In his recent letter of congratulations to President da Silva of Brazil, the President of Ireland extended an open, general invitation to the incoming Head of State to visit Ireland. Such a general, open invitation, which is extended as a matter of diplomatic courtesy, does not require a Government decision.

Brazil is an important partner for Ireland and one with which we share strong economic, historic and people-to-people links; Brazil is Ireland’s second largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and there are strong ties in terms of the Brazilian diaspora in Ireland and indeed the growing Irish community in Brazil.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he spoke with the US Senate leader (details supplied) during his recent visit to Washington DC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61321/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Continued high-level political engagement with senior US interlocutors on critical issues for Ireland is a priority for the Government. In this context, I have had several engagements with high-level US officials and members of Congress in recent months. During my visit to Washington DC last month, I had good meetings with USAID Administrator Samantha Power, and with the US State Department and the US Chamber of Commerce. I also met with eleven bipartisan members of the US House of Representatives' Congressional Friends of Ireland caucus, including the co-Chairs, Reps. Richard Neal and Mike Kelly. I also met separately with Congressman Bill Keating, who had just returned that week from Ireland where he led a Congressional Delegation to Dublin and Belfast.

I took these opportunities to discuss a range of issues, including developments with respect to Brexit and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, and the enduring close ties between our two countries. It was heartening to see strong bipartisan recognition of the importance of the Ireland-US relationship reflected in these meetings, which took place shortly after the midterm elections, as well as the keen interest on Capitol Hill in the implications of Brexit for the island of Ireland, North and South. Our Ambassador and the Embassy in Washington continue to maintain regular and close contact with members of Congress to ensure that our interests, particularly in regard to the Northern Ireland Protocol, are fully understood.

The proximity of the mid-term elections to my recent visit meant that I did not have the opportunity on this occasion to meet with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.