Interview with Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland.

Deputy Prime Minister, what is the purpose of your visit?

The purpose of my visit over these two days is to strengthen the political and economic ties between Ireland and Russia.

Why at this moment? Why did you decide to come right now?

 For a couple of reasons. First of all, Ireland will hold the chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe next year and, clearly, Russia has a very keen involvement in that organization. Following that, Ireland will also hold the presidency of the European Union at the beginning of 2013. So, Ireland is very much at the centre of European politics over the course of those two years and it’s important we have political discussions with Russia. We are anxious to build the trade relationship between Ireland and Russia. There is already a trade between two countries – about €2 billion, and it’s growing. The merchandise trade between the two countries increased by about 60% last year. So, there are big opportunities for increased business and trade activity between Ireland and Russia. We want to build on those.

We know that the history of trade ties between Ireland and Russia is very strong and has always been strong. Is that going to grow even more, do you think?

I think it will grow. And I think that growth in trade and growth in that kind of economic activity is what will get us over economic difficulties that we have found ourselves in in recent times. Ireland exports about 80% of everything we produce. Russia is a growing economy. It is a growing market. There are already about 200 Irish companies who have business involvement in Russia. There is potential for a lot more. There is a significant level of Russian investment in the Irish economy. And we will have a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission between the two countries, which I will co-chair with the Russian transport minister, and we hope to be able to build on that to strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister, one of the things that Russians are asking on a regular basis: is the euro going to survive? As you’ve seen, euro is used a lot here. And what is going to happen to the European Union? Some people are asking me for instance: is it going to last?

The answer to both questions is yes. The euro is going to continue and European leaders will do whatever is necessary and are doing whatever is necessary to ensure that that happens. And, secondly, yes, the European Union is going to continue and it is going to grow because the European Union already has plans to increase the number of member states that will belong to the European Union. You have to understand, of course, that the European Union is a relatively new project and when you bring together 27 member states, each with their own constitutional arrangements and political systems and so on, it does take a certain amount of time to work that into a very cohesive unit. But progress is being made and I think the key, as far as Europe is concerned right now, is to work on the economic things that are necessary to bring about growth and to bring about increased levels of employment within the European Union and all of the issues, which the European Union leadership is concentrated on.

We all trust that you are not here, Deputy Prime Minister, to make an announcement about the closure of the embassy here, because I believe that you announced that Ireland’s embassy to the Vatican will be closed?

Yes, as a country we have reviewed a number of missions and our diplomatic presence in different parts of the world. And we have made a decision to close some missions, including the Irish resident embassy at the Vatican. We will continue to have diplomatic relations with the Vatican and that will be services by an ambassador, who will be located in Dublin. As far as Russia is concerned, the Russian embassy will remain. Russia is a very important part of the economic objectives of Ireland and I’m here because I want to strengthen those relations. There is no question of the Irish embassy in Moscow be closed.

On November 11, Ireland will elect a new president, Michael D. Higgins. Is that going to change anything in the relationship of Russia and Ireland?

No, I think there is already a very good relationship between Ireland and Russia. Of course, President McAleese was here last year. I believe President Higgins will work on that relationship and will build on it. He will be operating as the head of state. And I believe that he will have a very successful presidency. He is a president who has taken a particular interest throughout his career in international affairs. He is no stranger in Russia. He’s visited here before. And he is also a president who will take a great interest in cultural matters. He is a poet. And I know that he has a huge interest in the work of great literary figures of Russia and I have no doubt that he will work to strengthen the cultural relations between Ireland and Russia.

Do you have anything else to add about the projects that you are going to be implementing, the education project that is going to come about?

Yes. One of the projects that we will be launching here over these two days is the Education in Ireland project. We are very anxious to showcase what Irish universities can do and the opportunities that there are for students both of undergraduate and postgraduate levels to study in Ireland. And, of course, the best English in the world is spoken in Ireland and we are anxious to teach that good English to Russian students and we are here to promote the teaching of English in Ireland.

Deputy Prime Minister, you’re saying that we are going to have a lot of Russians speaking English with an Irish accent?

Yes. And that add to the variety of life and no one can appreciate it greater than in Russia.  

Is there any question you would like me to ask you, Deputy Prime Minister, like something concerning visas, which is very much on our minds at the moment?

If you insist on asking that question I’ll answer it. We are changing our visa arrangements. We’ve already introduced a reform of our visa arrangements so that Russian citizens who get a visa to visit the United Kingdom will be able to use that visa to travel on to Ireland, because there is a common travel arrangement between Britain and Ireland. And, separately, we are also reviewing our visa regime in Ireland in any event so that it will make it easier for Russian citizens who want to do business in Ireland and with Ireland to obtain a visa to go there.

Good news, I presume?

It’s certainly good news for people who want to do business with Ireland. We keep a lot of contact with Irish people who do business with Russia, and this is one of the issues they’ve raised – the necessity to change our visa arrangements.

And finally, Deputy Prime Minister, I presume that it’s a wait-and-see which President will go to Ireland from this side. We are waiting for after the elections.

Yes, indeed, and we wouldn’t dare to involve ourselves in the elections of another country. We’ll wait and see what the outcome of that is. The president of Russia – either the current president or the next president – will be a more than a welcome visitor.

Deputy Prime Minister, thank you very much.