Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Finance if he would report on his meeting with the president of the European Central Bank which took place during his Saint Patrick’s Day mission to Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16386/25]

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Finance if he would report on his meeting with the German Minister for Finance as part of his Saint Patrick’s Day trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16387/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.

As is traditional practice where possible during Saint Patrick’s Day programmes, I met with my German counterpart, Jörg Kukies, on 13 March during my visit to Frankfurt and Berlin.

We discussed our respective economies and current European and global and economic challenges, including in relation to transatlantic trade given the importance of exports to both Ireland and Germany. We discussed efforts at EU level to enhance competitiveness, with focus on the work of both the ECOFIN council and the Eurogroup, which I chair.

Work continues in Germany to form a new government following their recent general election and my visit coincided with a week of intensive political discussions in the German parliament on domestic economic measures, which Minister Kukies also discussed with me when we met.

I always value my visits to Germany and the discussions I have there. The modern Irish-German relationship is one of business, culture, sport and above all friendship, and it is no surprise that it is our third-largest trading partner in the world.

As part of my visit to Germany, I also met the President of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt on 12 March in my capacity as President of the Eurogroup. I regularly engage with President Lagarde, who is a standing participant in the Eurogroup meetings, on matters related to the economic situation and budgetary policies of the euro area member states.