Willie O'Dea
Ceist:155. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on the recent meeting with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. [22516/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 March 2026
Ceisteanna (155)
Freagraí scríofa
During his visit to Moldova as part of the St Patrick’s Day Ministerial programme, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, T.D., met with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, at the Presidential Palace in Chișinău.
They discussed the strong bilateral relations between Ireland and Moldova, which have been further strengthened by the establishment of an Irish Embassy in Chișinău last year.
Minister Byrne informed President Sandu that enlargement will feature as a priority during Ireland’s EU Presidency, and discussed Moldova’s resilience in the face of Russian hybrid interference, and the impact on Moldova of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Minister recognised the solidarity Moldova has shown with the Ukrainian people by hosting a large number of refugees.
During his visit to Chișinău, the Minister also met with Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu; Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Carolina Perebinos.
The Minster addressed the inaugural St Patrick’s Day reception organised by our Embassy in Chișinău, where he met with members of the Moldovan government and parliament; diplomatic corps and members of the Irish community in Moldova.