MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu to Dublin, Ireland (9 to 10 May 2013)

Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu meets with Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, 10 May 2013. Picture: MFA
 

            Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu visited Dublin, Ireland from 9 to 10 May 2013.  This is the final leg of her three-stop visit to Europe from 5 to 10 May 2013.  During her visit, she had three bilateral meetings with Irish Ministers, namely Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton; Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin; and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton. 

            Minister Fu had dinner with Chairman of the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade (JCFAT) of the Irish National Parliament (or Oireachtas) Pat Breen, together with other Members of Parliament (or Teachta Dálas) from JCFAT and the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs (JCEUAff).   She also attended a roundtable luncheon with prominent Irish business leaders.

            Minister Fu and the Irish leaders expressed satisfaction with the friendly state of bilateral relations and noted the robust ties between Singapore and Ireland, particularly in terms of trade, education, cultural cooperation and people-to-people linkages.  They noted the strong potential for greater economic collaboration between Singapore and Ireland, given the similarities shared by the two countries as small, outward-looking and pro-trade countries.  All three Ministers expressed Ireland’s enthusiasm for the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), which will facilitate greater market access and bring about concrete benefits for the companies and economies of Singapore, Ireland and the EU.

            The Irish leaders briefed Minister Fu on the economic measures and structural reforms undertaken by the Irish government to generate growth, create jobs and help Ireland regain its economic competitiveness.  They also updated Minister Fu on recent developments in the EU, given Ireland’s current role as the President of the EU Council.    

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

11 MAY 2013