Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to visit Poland in the first quarter of 2024. [1075/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland and Poland enjoy a strong bilateral relationship. Although I do not currently have a scheduled visit to Poland in the first quarter of this year, I look forward to engaging with my new Polish counterpart, Foreign Minister Sikorski, at meetings in Brussels and exploring further opportunities, including through visits, to further strengthen our bilateral relationship.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he spoke with the UK Opposition Foreign Secretary during his visit to London before Christmas. [1076/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I visited London on 13 December for a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

This was my first meeting with the British Foreign Secretary since his appointment in November 2023. As such, it represented an important opportunity to discuss relations between our countries, and to share views on a wide range of foreign policy issues including the crisis in the Middle East, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and international development aid.

I was also able to meet with the Chair and CEO of the London Irish Centre in Camden during my brief time in London. This was to announce Irish Government funding of €2.2 million towards the Centre’s redevelopment project. This is an important contribution to the Centre's fundraising efforts and signals the Government's strong ongoing commitment to supporting the Irish community in Britain.

I did not meet with the Shadow Foreign Secretary on this occasion; however, I am in contact with the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as part of my regular engagement with a range of UK political figures as I work to strengthen the British-Irish relationship.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, my Department aims to further deepen bilateral relations with South East Asia, and particularly with Singapore in light of its significant global and regional role. The bilateral relationship between Singapore and Ireland is strong and growing. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. As small, outward-looking countries committed to multilateralism and the rule of law, Ireland and Singapore are likeminded on many global issues. Singapore is Ireland’s largest trading partner in the sub-region and Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Bord Bia all have offices in Ireland House in Singapore, co-located with Ireland's Embassy.

There were a number of other Ministerial-level engagements between Ireland and Singapore in 2023. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, attended a reception of the Forum of Small States (FOSS) hosted by Minister Balakrishnan during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in September. In November, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, visited Singapore as part of an Enterprise Ireland trade mission and attended the Singapore Fintech Festival. During this visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill held a bilateral meeting with Senior Minister of State for National Development and for Communications and Information, H.E. Mr. Tan Kiat How.

As Taoiseach, I visited Singapore in July 2022 as part of a working visit to Asia. During this visit, I met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. At this meeting, we discussed global post-pandemic economic recovery, regional security and Russia's war in Ukraine. I also attended a FOSS reception hosted by Minister Balakrishnan during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in September 2022.

As well as bilateral engagement, we engage with Singapore through the Association of South East Asian States (ASEAN), the Small Advanced Economies Initiative, the Forum of Small States, the United Nations and through the European Union.

Ireland's Embassy in Singapore engages both bilaterally and in conjunction with the EU Delegation to advance the EU and Ireland’s interests and to advocate on human rights and political issues of interest. Singapore remains a key partner in the region and I look forward to continued high-level engagement in the period to come.