Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions in which he engaged at the Munich Security Conference. [6888/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I attended the Munich Security Conference from 14-15 February. The Munich Security Conference continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms for debate and policy exchange on international security and foreign policy. Key issues discussed at this year's conference were Russia’s ongoing illegal war in Ukraine and its impact on European and global security, the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East, and transatlantic relations.

The Munich Security Conference is an important opportunity for Ireland to remain at the centre of global conversations on foreign and security policy choices. This year both the Taoiseach and I represented the Government for the second time.

I met with a range of global leaders, decision-makers and policy-thinkers including; the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Palestine, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, the Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova, the Foreign Minister of Jordan, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, the Foreign Minister of Norway, the Foreign and Defence Minister of Iceland, the Minister of Defence of Luxembourg, the Minister of Defence of Lithuania, US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Dan Sullivan, and the Commissioner General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini.

I addressed the conference at events focused on support of the UN Development System, and on solidarity and support for Ukraine, key foreign policy priorities for Ireland. In many of my conversations, I took the opportunity to highlight the importance transatlantic relations and trade.

Participation in the Munich Security Conference, particularly in times of conflict and geopolitical uncertainty, is more important than ever and ensures that Ireland’s voice was heard in the discussions on critical foreign and security policy issues underway globally.