Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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646. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will report on her visit to London for St. Patrick's Day; the meetings she attended, the issues that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13401/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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647. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will report on the visit of the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability to Japan for St. Patrick's Day; the meetings she attended, the issues that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13402/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day programme for 2025, I visited Japan – Tokyo and Osaka – for a programme of engagements to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, highlight our strong ties with Japan, and demonstrate the Government’s commitment to deepening the links between our countries. Japan is the world’s fourth largest economy and a significant trading partner for Ireland and the largest source of FDI from Asia in terms of job creation, and the visit programme included a number of political, economic, and Irish community engagements.

In Tokyo, I had political engagements with State Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare, and the Chair and members of the Japan Ireland Parliamentary Friendship League, discussing disability policy and political and parliamentary links between Ireland and Japan. I also met with the Japan Barrier-Free Project, an NGO that advocates for and supports children with disabilities and discussed disability services and how Ireland and Japan can learn from one another. Economic engagements supporting Ireland’s trade and investment objectives included meetings with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and An Bord Bia clients and Japanese partners, and a visit to Asia’s largest food and beverage trade show, FOODEX Japan, supporting participation by An Bord Bia and client companies. I also met with the Board of Directors of the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce.

I joined the Embassy’s annual National Day Reception, where I met with members of the active Irish diaspora and key contacts of the Embassy and State Agencies. I also participated in a wide range of cultural and people to people events, including the Emerald Ball charity dinner organised by the Ireland Funds, the Yokohama St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the Green Ireland Festival at Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo. In Osaka, I visited Ireland’s impressive pavilion for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, which opens in mid-April, and will provide an important platform to strengthen political, cultural, economic and people-to-people links.

After my visit to Japan I travelled onward to the Republic of Korea, the world’s 12th largest economy.

In my role as Minister for Disability I met with important stakeholders, including parliamentarians working on disability policy. I also visited the Evergreen Centre for persons with additional needs, supported by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, and had direct experience of Irish innovation in assistive technology during a visit to the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital.

During my visit I was delighted to exchange with and thank a number of Irish Missionaries, working in this important area for decades in Korea.

I also had a number of political engagements, including with the Chair of the newly formed Ireland-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group, and with the Deputy Minister for Political Affairs.

I paid my respects to the fallen Irish and those of Irish descent at the War Memorial of Korea and had an opportunity to visit the Demilitarised Zone, where I received an update on the current security situation on the Korean peninsula.

A highlight of my visit was the annual St. Patrick’s Day Reception where we celebrated our national day with the Irish diaspora in Seoul. The event was also an opportunity to meet with clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Bord Bia who are working together with the Embassy to enhance economic growth between Ireland and Korea.