Thank you Ambassador Neary, and thank you Julie.
I am delighted to be here in Amsterdam, and to see so many Irish and Dutch companies in active and productive partnership – thank you all for coming.
Earlier I had the pleasure of seeing first hand the type of investments and exports which really showcase the levels of partnership between Irish and Dutch companies.
As you may know we are at the start of a very special year for Ireland.
This year, 2016, we mark the centenary of a momentous event in Irish history, one which set in train events which led to an independent and democratic Ireland – the Easter Rising.
Throughout this year, Irish people and our friends throughout the world will be reflecting, commemorating and celebrating – not just the events of 1916, but on the journey we have made as a country over the past 100 years and on what we want from our shared future.
For the Government, it is also a year in which we want to secure the economic recovery for the people of Ireland.
A year in which our long term economic plan takes hold, boosts exports, creates more jobs, and provides a better future for the Irish people.
These are common ambitions of all the peoples of Europe and it is why trade missions such as this are essential. We want to deepen the economic links between our two countries so that we can create sustainable jobs, boost exports, and improve the public finances that can support vital public services and public investment.
Ireland is now the fastest growing economy in Europe.
We are delivering more jobs. Our unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of over 15% in 2012 to 8.8% today. Our aim is to get that rate down to at least 6% by 2020.
We are investing in critical infrastructure required for a sustainable economy – in areas such as education, transport and enterprise support.
We are committed to prudent management of the public finances, including by eliminating the budget deficit. Having emerged from an international bailout in 2013 new figures published this week have shown how our public finances are almost in balance when once off payments are included.
In future, to avoid a return to the boom and bust economic approach, all public spending increases will be below the underlying growth rate of the economy.
Stable public finances are a prerequisite for jobs and investment.
As a small country we must also be agile and innovative. We have launched a new innovation strategy to ensure innovation drives a strong sustainable economy and a better society.
In this we are working from a strong base – Ireland is ranked first in Europe for how innovative our firms are and also for the economic effects of innovation in our society.
Earlier today, we announced a new exciting partnership between Ireland and the European Space Agency which is a product of the investment we have been making in innovation.
Enterprise Ireland client companies will be developing and deploying new technology in key areas such as telemetry, communications and software, space vehicle coatings and structures.
It is a source of immense pride that solutions provided by Irish companies will ensure the health of the team aboard the International Space Station and will allow the monitoring of the agricultural environment from space.
Like the Netherlands, Ireland is an exporting nation, and trade has been critical to the Irish economic recovery. We are now exporting more than ever before in our history.
As we grow our exports to unprecedented levels, the Netherlands has been a vital partner. The Netherlands is our 7th largest export market for goods and our 6th largest market for services.
Nearly 500 Irish companies backed by Enterprise Ireland are selling innovative goods and services alongside Dutch partners.
I was delighted to celebrate export success stories earlier with Enterprise Ireland, Irish companies and their Dutch partners.
These announcements in a wide range of business sectors show the impact of the Dutch-Irish relationship across the full breadth of our countries’ industries.
A key part of the Dutch - Irish economic relationship is the success of Enterprise Ireland clients in the High End Engineering and construction fields.
These companies are involved in building advanced Pharma and Engineering Plants, Food Processing facilities and Data Centres creating a large number of jobs in both countries.
I am looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow of seeing some of the results in person. I know that many of these companies and their clients join us here this evening.
These small and medium sized Irish firms are the backbone of many local communities throughout Ireland, and it is a matter of tremendous pride to see them thriving in such a competitive and important market.
Trade is of course a two way street and benefits both countries.
Much of Europe’s growth in the coming years will come from small and medium size enterprises across the continent. The more we can support our companies to source from each other, the stronger the European economy will be.
The Irish Government will continue to place significant emphasis on our economic relationship with the Netherlands and will do all we can to improve the links between Irish and Dutch companies.
I would certainly encourage all of our Dutch colleagues here this evening to talk to Enterprise Ireland, our state agency that supports innovation and partnership possibilities with Irish companies.
Partnerships with the Irish companies present here this evening could add growth opportunities to your company or improve your firm’s competitiveness, as they have for many other Dutch companies.
For representatives of the financial services sector who are present this evening, I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that Ireland will host the inaugural European Financial Forum later this month.
This Forum, in partnership with the Financial Times, will provide an opportunity for industry leaders, policy makers and regulators to explore the huge changes that are shaping the financial sector and to discuss future opportunities.
I hope to see many of you there and welcome you to Ireland.
In the meantime our top priority will be to keep the Irish recovery going, help Irish business expand abroad and create new jobs.
But for now, let me just thank you all again for coming and I hope you have a pleasant and productive evening.
Thank you.