First Minister to visit Dublin

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to visit Dublin later this month for a series of engagements with politicians and business leaders to further strengthen Scotland’s relationship with Ireland.

As a core part of the visit the First Minister has been invited to address the Seanad, the upper house of the Irish parliament, becoming the first serving head of Government ever to do so.

During the visit later this month, she will also meet around 100 of Ireland’s top business representatives and host meetings with Irish President Michael D Higgins and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD.

The First Minister said: “Scotland and Ireland have a shared history and a long tradition of co-operation on a range of issues.

“In the post-Brexit landscape, it has become even more important that we work together to protect our shared interests.

“Last year we established an innovation and investment hub in Dublin to strengthen our relationship with Ireland and promote inward investment.

“I am proud and humbled to have been invited to address the Seanad and recognise what an honour this is. I am looking forward to the opportunity to speak to Senators about my hopes for continued work between our two nations and my plans to protect Scotland’s interests in the EU.”

Notes

Further details of the First Minister’s programme will be made available ahead of the visit.

Previously, speakers including John F Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton have addressed joint sittings of both houses of the Irish parliament.