Tánaiste's opening remarks at joint reception at Bangor University

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Thank you, First Minister, for your warm welcome to North Wales.

I am particularly pleased to join you here in Bangor this evening.

I know that you had the opportunity to visit my home city of Cork as part of last year’s Ireland-Wales Forum. That meeting, and our presence here this week, demonstrates the importance we both place on a partnership that stretches across all parts of Ireland and Wales.

It is essential that we continue to use these opportunities to continue to strengthen and deepen this relationship.

A Chairde,

Cuireann sé an-áthas orm a bheith libh anocht chun an gaol láidir idir Éirinn agus an Bhreatain Bheag a cheiliúradh. Is ocáid thábhachtach í a léiríonn tábhacht ár gcomharsanachta.

Ireland’s connections with Wales are deep and stretch back thousands of years.

Nowhere is this clearer than in North Wales, with connections to Ireland reflected in the mythology of the Mabiniogion.

In more recent times, Holyhead, of course, has been a gateway for countless Irish people to Wales and beyond for work, family, culture and sport. From the early mail boats to the ferries of today, Holyhead and the Isle of Anglesey holds a particular significance for people on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Irish people have thrived in Wales. Those of you here today represent the academic, business and personal links that bind our two countries together. I am very much looking forward to hearing more about your personal stories this evening.

In particular, it is wonderful to be here at this seat of learning in the University of Bangor. I am joined this evening by my colleague Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We would both like to thank Vice-Chancellor Edmund Burke and all the team here at the University for their warm welcome.

Bangor University has been an active partner in academic and research cooperation between Ireland and Wales over many years. I know that you also draw significant numbers of students from the island of Ireland.

Cooperation between Irish and Welsh Universities benefits people on both sides of the Irish Sea. That is why the agreement reached last month on the UK’s participation in the EU’s Horizon programme is so welcome.

It will no doubt benefit universities in Ireland and Wales, given their existing close links. I look forward throughout this visit to learning more about that cooperation in higher education and research and the practical benefits it brings.

As you will know, what brings us here today is the Ireland-Wales Forum. This annual event is the signature political commitment of the Ireland-Wales Shared Statement and Joint Action Plan.

Separated by just 50 miles across the Irish Sea, it is not surprising that there are a wide range of issues which are of interest to both Ireland and Wales.

I am delighted this year that we will focus on common challenges to include the transition to renewable energy, building and supporting a skilled workforce, as well as supporting our respective Celtic languages.

We will also shine a light on our vital economic and trading links. For that reason, I am pleased that there are representatives here this evening from companies working in a variety of sectors with business and investments on both sides of the Irish Sea.

In 2022 Ireland was the second largest export market for Wales, accounting for £3.0 billion worth of exports.

Last week, in Dublin, I spoke at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce annual conference in Dublin. It was an opportunity to welcome, in particular, the record €100 billion worth in two-way trade between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

At the same time, it was an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges of recent years - particularly in addressing the very real impacts Brexit.

Given the extent of trade links between us, I know that there are few who understand this more acutely than you here in Wales. For this reason, our partnership, our commitment to working together to mitigate against those impacts, and our continued focus on the future is vital.

The work of our re-opened Consulate in Cardiff, under the leadership of Denise, together with the Welsh government office in Dublin, is vital to this end.

Most importantly, as I scan the horizon, I see a wealth of partnership and opportunity unfolding.

Following this Forum visit, I am delighted that the music, song and storytelling that binds us, will be spotlighted at the Other Voices festival in Cardigan.

That’s an important showcase threading connections between the Atlantic seaboard in Dingle, Co Kerry to Cardigan Bay on the Irish Sea.

And …. while we might both have hoped for Ireland and Wales to face each other in a Rugby World Cup semi-final tomorrow evening - we look forward now to partnering to stage the UEFA European Championships in 2028!

Míle buíochas arís as ucht an chuireadh a bheith libh anocht. Tá mé ag siúl go mór buaileadh libh.

Thank you again First Minister and all at Bangor University for your hospitality.