Tánaiste begins five-day visit to Mexico and Colombia

By David Young, PA

The Tanaiste has commenced a five-day visit to Mexico and Colombia focused on strengthening relations between the countries and Ireland.

Micheál Martin has already said he will also raise the issue of the global drugs trade during the trip.

He will begin his visit in Mexico where he will meet Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena as well as other political figures.

He will also deliver an address on foreign policy to senior members of the Mexican diplomatic corps.

The Tánaiste will also meet with Irish companies that have invested in Mexico.

He will join members of the Irish community in Mexico City to honour the memory of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion (Batallon de San Patricio), a group of mostly Irish soldiers who fought as part of the Mexican army in the 1840s.

The Tánaiste will formally open the new premises of the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico City and inaugurate Ireland’s new Office for Central America, which is housed in the Embassy.

He will travel to Colombia on Wednesday where he will carry out a number of high-level political meetings, including with Minister of Defence Ivan Velasquez and Deputy Foreign Minister Francisco Coy.

The discussions will focus on major themes in the bilateral relationship, including Ireland’s longstanding support to the Colombian peace process.

Commenting on the Mexican leg on the visit, Mr Martin said: “Next year marks 50 years since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Mexico, although our connections go much further back.

These links include Irishmen who fought alongside the Mexican Army in the 1840s, and I will attend, along with members of the Irish community, a ceremony to honour their memory.

“I look forward to returning to Mexico, which I last visited as Foreign Minister in 2009, and discussing with Minister Barcena what we can do together to build on the already very strong links between our two countries. Minister Barcena has invited me to address Mexican Ambassadors on foreign policy issues.

“To underline Ireland’s commitment to our relationship with Mexico, I will formally open the new Embassy of Ireland premises in Mexico City and inaugurate our Office for Central America, situated in the Embassy.

“I will hear from successful Irish investors in Mexico and other business people. Mexico is also Ireland’s largest trading partner in Latin America – with two-way trade in goods and services approaching €5 billion. One of the messages I expect to hear is that there is huge potential to build on this success.

“I will also meet members of the resident Irish community and commemorate the actions of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion.”

On the visit to Colombia, the Tanaiste added: “Ireland has longstanding links with Colombia, including the contribution of Cork-born General Daniel Florence O’Leary to the achievement of Colombian independence.

“Today, and particularly since the opening of Ireland’s Embassy in Bogota in 2019, there is an increasingly strong bilateral relationship including considerable Irish investment.

“While in Bogota, I will meet with senior members of the Colombian Government, including for discussions on Ireland’s continued support to Colombian efforts to consolidate its peace process.

“This has taken on a new emphasis in recent months since Ireland accepted an invitation from the Colombian Government to become one of the guarantors in its ongoing peace dialogues.”