Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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153. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her proposals to develop the trading relationship between Norway and Ireland. [65458/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland and Norway enjoy very strong bilateral relations. We share unique historical connections as well as growing people-to-people links. In the past few years, Ireland’s relationship with Norway has been revitalised and strengthened through the Global Ireland Strategy for the Nordic Region to 2025. The Nordic Strategy has provided a clear framework for Ireland to deepen our relationship with Norway and its neighbours across a spectrum of areas including politically and in the areas of trade, tourism, the environment and culture.

Through our Embassy in Oslo and our State Agencies, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia based in Stockholm and Copenhagen, we are deepening our trade with Norway. According to the latest figures released by the CSO in 2024 total trade between Ireland and Norway was worth €5.6 billion, with the trading balance firmly weighted in Ireland's favour. Several Norwegian companies have investments and operations in Ireland notably in the fisheries sector as well as the expanding renewable energy sector.

Political and diplomatic contacts are frequent and cordial. The Taoiseach met with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre en marge of the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen in October.

One area of concern where differences can arise is in relation to fisheries and the setting of unilateral quotas for certain stocks, resulting in the severe diminution of stock . The European Commission has exclusive competence to negotiate on the EU's behalf on fisheries with Third Countries and Ireland will continue to be active in raising relevant concerns on these matters in the EU context including on the need to follow scientific advice to ensure sustainable fisheries.

Ireland is appreciative of Norway’s efforts and role in facilitating energy security for Europe and showing solidarity with European partners, including Ireland. Ireland sources a significant amount of our gas supply from Norway. In recent years, there has been growing and important collaboration in renewable energy, and several Norwegian companies have made very significant investments in wind energy in Ireland.

An estimated 50,000 Norwegian tourists visit Ireland annually, with regular direct flights between Dublin and the capital Oslo, Dublin and Norway’s second city, Bergen and as of 3 December between Dublin and the Arctic city of Tromsø. As part of the European Economic Area for over thirty years now, Norway is well integrated into the Single Market. As Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union approaches, I look forward to even closer engagement with Norway, including as an EEA Member State and further progress in our economic, trading and people-to-people links throughout 2026.