The past year has been an exciting one for Ireland-Romania bilateral relations. The Embassy was delighted to organise a visit to Bucharest last July by the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Mr Leo Varadkar, who held meetings with President Klaus Iohannis, Chamber of Deputies President Liviu Dragnea and Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă. This was an important opportunity for the Taoiseach to consolidate relationships already well-developed through regular engagement at EU, UN or other international meetings and conferences. It was the first official visit of an Irish Prime Minister to Romania, and therefore a very positive sign that our bilateral relationship is growing stronger.
More good news arrived from Dublin in January. For the first time ever an Irish Minister – Seán Canney – will visit Bucharest on the occasion of our National Day, St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on 17 March. It had always been traditional for Irish Ministers to travel around the World to greet Irish communities on St Patrick’s Day, especially in places like the UK, the US, Canada and Australia where there are very large resident Irish communities. I am delighted that Bucharest has been included this year, perhaps in recognition of the high regard we have for the sizeable Romanian community now living in Ireland. The Embassy and the Irish community are preparing an action-packed and fun-filled programme for Minister Canney so as to ensure that Bucharest is on the ministerial itinerary every year from now on!
