Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the implementation of the Ireland and Germany joint plan of action for enhanced bilateral and EU Cooperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57054/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Germany-Ireland Joint Plan of Action has delivered a step change in our relationship with Germany, one of our closest European partners. The current, third iteration of the Joint Plan of Action has been in place since June 2024 and reflects the strength of our existing bilateral relationship as well as setting an ambitious agenda for further deepening cooperation across numerous topics including EU issues, foreign and security policy, defence, finance, agriculture, climate and development cooperation.

This cooperation will intensify further as we prepare to take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year. Germany will be a vital partner for us in delivering a positive agenda for the EU.

To support the Joint Plan of Action, as part of the Global Ireland Strategy, we have in recent years opened two new Consulates General in Germany, in Frankfurt and in Munich. These two new missions have increased Ireland's impact in those regions and added further value depth and reach to our relationship with Germany.

There has been intense bilateral political engagement as part of the current Joint Plan of Action and a strong programme of visits between Ireland and Germany. Since the new German Government took office, I have met with my Foreign Minister counterpart, Johann Wadephul in Berlin, and the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne has met his counterpart, Minister Gunther Krichbaum. Ministers Burke and Donohoe have also recently travelled to Frankfurt, where we will formally open the new Consulate General offices next month. The Joint Plan of Action recognises the exchange of views between elected representatives as a crucial part of bilateral relations, and in the last year, delegations from a number of German states including Lower Saxony and Bavaria have conducted successful visits to Ireland.

The Joint Plan of Action provides for annual meetings between German and Irish think-tanks as well as an exchange of diplomats. In November 2024, the German Irish Joint Vision Forum, a partnership between foreign ministries and think-tanks, took place in Dublin. The next iteration will take place in Berlin in December.

Last September, an Irish diplomat took up duties for one year in Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. This secondment was completed successfully, and Germany has undertaken to send an officer to work at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2026, in advance of and during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In sum, our bilateral relationship with Germany continues to go from strength to strength and I look forward to further developing our links with our German counterparts in the context of our Presidency next year.