Tánaiste addresses German business leaders in Berlin

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., has today (Monday 15^th March 2010) addressed German business and opinion leaders on Ireland's strategy for economic renewal.

In an address delivered at the Brandenburg Gate HQ of Commerzbank, the Tánaiste said that the Irish Government is pursuing a strategy that will secure economic recovery and place Ireland on a path of long term sustainable growth.

She said that Ireland's economy and its people have demonstrated a flexibility and capacity for rapid adjustment over the past eighteen months. She said that Ireland had taken the hard decisions and was determined to stay the course.

On Irish-German relations, the Tánaiste said that the prioritisation of Germany this week demonstrated the importance attached to the relationship between both countries. Germany is Ireland's fourth largest trading partner in both services and merchandise trade and is our most important partner in the euro area. She also recalled Ireland's role during the 1990 EU Presidency in securing European support for German unity.

The Tánaiste met this morning with her counterpart, Federal Minister for Economics and Technology, Rainer Bruderle. The meeting was the first bi-lateral between the Irish and German Governments since the German elections last year. She continues with the trade and investment elements of her mission for the next two days.

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