merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., is in Paris today where he is beginning a three-day programme of trade and investment-focused events aimed at boosting Ireland’s economic and political ties with France.

The Tánaiste’s programme is part of the Government’s wider ‘Promote Ireland’ campaign of international activity which will see 27 ministers taking part in over 100 business events and 80 high-level political meetings in 35 cities around the world over the St. Patrick’s Day period.

While in Paris, the Tánaiste will hold individual meetings with President François Hollande, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, during which deeper EU cooperation, including on Banking Union, economic affairs and the worsening crisis in Ukraine will be discussed.

The Tánaiste will also attend a number of events supporting Irish companies seeking opportunities for growth in France, and present Ireland as a location to French companies wishing to expand their international operations.

France is Ireland’s third largest market for Irish-owned company exports, and our number-one market for lamb and seafood exports. Total bilateral trade in goods and services between at Ireland and France is worth in excess of €15 billion annually.

Over the next three days, the Tánaiste will support Irish exporters at the Wabel Frozen Food summit, which brings the largest European buyers of frozen food products together with potential suppliers. He will also lead a site visit to Europe’s biggest maker of agricultural machinery for 12 exporting Irish manufacturers.

Together with members of the French Government, the Tánaiste will also represent the Irish Government at the Ireland – France Six Nations match at the Stade de France on Saturday. Prior to the match, he will meet with members of the Franco-Irish business group, Network Irlande, and Enterprise Ireland companies with business interests in France, for a networking event at the Embassy of Ireland.