Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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539. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has plans to visit Malaysia during 2023. [13346/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Bilateral relations between Ireland and Malaysia are positive and warm, supported by resident embassies in each other's countries.

Ireland has longstanding people-to-people links with Malaysia. There is a strong Irish community network and many Malaysians come to Ireland each year to study. Trade and economic links are also increasing and there are now over 100 Irish companies based in, or engaging with, Malaysia.

I have no immediate plans to visit Malaysia, but I am delighted that the Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with responsibility for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins T.D., represented the Government in Malaysia as part of this year's St. Patrick's Day Programme. His visit included meetings at political level, including with the Minister of Higher Education, and participation in a range of Irish community, culture and trade engagements. It is hoped that the visit will bring a renewed emphasis to our long-standing partnership with Malaysia in the area of higher education and help to reinforce our trade and economic links.