Minister Kelleher joins Australian Prime Minister at St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr. Billy Kelleher, T.D. today met the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Kevin Rudd at the Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner of the Queensland Irish Association in Brisbane.

The St. Patrick’s Dinner is the highlight of the Irish-Australian calendar in Queensland and among the other guests in attendance were the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbot, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, senior Political figures from Queensland and senior representatives of the judiciary, churches and the armed forces.

In his address Minister Kelleher highlighted the strong personal and business relationship that exists between Ireland and Australia. Minister Kelleher said: “Ireland and Australia are bound in a unique way despite the distance between us. Our relationship, while rich in history, is also a contemporary and modern one. I believe this bond has developed to a point unparalleled in our history, as evidenced by the presence of so many at this celebration of Ireland and of the Irish in Brisbane, and that it has the capacity to develop further”.

The Minister pointed out that trade between the two countries has been growing steadily and is currently worth Aus $ 2.5 Billion with 80 Irish companies having a presence in Australia and 35 Australian companies in Ireland.

Tourism links are also very strong with an estimated 150,000 Australians visiting Ireland each year and some 60,000 Irish visiting Australia. Currently there are more than 20,000 young Irish people on working holiday visas in Australia and some 2,000 young Australians in Ireland.

Minister Kelleher said: “This all adds up to a very substantial human and economic relationship. Ireland, which for many years had to look overseas for opportunity, is now itself a land of opportunity, especially for Australian companies wishing to grow their business in the expanded European Union of nearly half a billion people”.

Minister Kelleher will later travel to Sydney and Canberra where he will participate in St. Patrick Day events and will meet with political and business leaders.

Photograph will be issued by MacInnes Photography, contact: 01 6610215.

ENDS/TC422

16^th March 2010