merrion street

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Ms Helen McEntee, will visit Oslo, Norway today. During her visit she will meet with Norway’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Norway’s foreign affairs committee and meet with Irish businesses in Oslo. The Minister will also deliver a keynote address on Brexit at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. 

Speaking in advance of the visit, Minister McEntee said: 

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to visit Oslo. Late last year I welcomed Norway’s Minister for EEA and EU Affairs to Dublin. This visit will be a further opportunity to discuss Brexit; Norway’s programme for co-operation with the EU; security and defence and enhancing bilateral relations between Ireland and Norway. Our two countries have much in common, having developed into open, export-driven economies from previously poor farming nations. As two of the most open economies and advanced societies in the world, we share a belief in the integral value of rules-based multilateral institutions.

 

The trade relationship between our two countries is in the region of €3.2 billion and has the potential to grow further. Irish companies now employ over 1,700 people in Norway. 

 

The visit will also be an opportunity to hear from Norway’s business community about the operation of their customs border with Sweden. Based on my previous engagements with my Norwegian counterparts, we are of the view that this does not offer a workable model for the island of Ireland post-Brexit.