Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
336. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she plans to visit South Korea before the end of Quarter 3 this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28052/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is an ongoing strong level of bilateral engagement between Ireland and the Republic of Korea. Most recently, in March, my colleague, Department of Transport Minister of State Seán Canney, travelled to the Republic of Korea to mark St. Patrick’s Day, engaging in a wide range of meetings with political counterparts, and stakeholders from the trade and investment, technology sectors, as well as the Irish community .
In 2025, three Irish Ministers visited the Republic of Korea including; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, and then Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Their face-to face-engagements with Korean counterparts are a clear illustration of Ireland’s commitment to strengthening the ties between Ireland and the Republic of Korea.
Alongside political-level visits and engagements, contact at the working level continues at pace with officials in my Department engaging frequently with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Ireland, on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues. Similarly, Ireland's Ambassador and Embassy team in Seoul interact on a regular basis with their counterparts in Seoul and more widely in the Republic of Korea.
Ireland and the Republic of Korea have a shared commitment to the international rules-based system, and to maintaining the flow of global trade. The Republic of Korea an important partner for Ireland in the Asia Pacific. In 2024, Ireland’s trade in goods with the Republic of Korea was valued at €2.7 billion, with trade in services amounting to an additional €4.9 billion.
In recent years, our relations with the Republic of Korea have been further enhanced within the framework of my Department’s Asia Pacific Strategy and my Department remains committed to strengthening the relationship between Ireland and the Republic of Korea across the wide range of our engagement.
As regards my travel schedule for 2026, with Ireland hosting the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026 and the considerable travel commitments it requires, I do no expect to visit South Korean before the end of Q3 2026.
