Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s bilateral ties with Indonesia are strong and growing. Our relationship dates back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1984 and was strengthened by the opening of an Irish Embassy in Jakarta in 2014. This year, Ireland and Indonesia celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the opening of our Embassy in Jakarta. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in London is accredited to Ireland and my Department is in regular contact with Embassy officials.

Ireland regularly engages with Indonesia through both bilateral and multilateral fora. Foreign Minister of Indonesia, H.E. Ms. Retno Marsudi, and I both participated in an Irish-Indonesian hosted event at the UN in September 2023 on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls.

In February of this year, the Minister of State in my Department with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming T.D., and the Minster for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, both attended the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. This meeting resulted in a Joint Ministerial Statement addressing a wide range of issues faced by Ireland and Indonesia, including EU-ASEAN cooperation, trade, climate and emissions, and human rights.

In 2023, Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Jack Chambers T.D., visited Indonesia as part of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day programme where he met with a number of Indonesian Government Ministers. Following this visit, in October 2023 Minister Chambers was the Guest of Honour at the Experience Indonesia event in Dublin, hosted by the Embassy of Indonesia.

My Department regularly engages with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. In October 2022, senior officials in my Department travelled to Jakarta for Bilateral Consultations. A wide range of topics were discussed, including the economy, education, health, the creative industry, green issues and sustainable tourism, alongside foreign policy issues.