SCOTLAND’S external affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop is to head to Dublin tomorrow for a two-day visit in a bid to increase economic, diplomatic and cultural ties between Scotland and Ireland amid fears over the damage Brexit will have on both countries.
Hyslop will meet ministerial counterparts in the Irish capital as well as travel to a range of joint cultural and conservation projects under way between both nations.
Her trip comes just after Leo Varadkar took up the post of Taoiseach and appointed a new Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.
“Scotland and Ireland already have a strong and long-standing relationship and we want to develop economic, diplomatic and cultural links with our neighbour,” said Hyslop.
She added: “The Scottish Government views Ireland as a key partner within the EU 27 — but it is also important that, despite the forthcoming negotiations, relations between our countries do not become too narrowly defined by Brexit.
“While our academic and culture sectors are already collaborating well together, there is potential in the agricultural sector and areas like Ireland’s growing financial services sector. It’s important that we build on this potential and deepen economic ties between the two nations.”
Scotland and Ireland share considerable concerns over the economic impact of a hard Brexit.
The Scottish Government has repeatedly warned of the impact leaving the European single market would have in terms of jobs and the economy, while Irish ministers are also worried about the prospect of Ireland’s trade with the UK if it leaves the single market.
The UK is the country’s single biggest trading partner, with €1.2bn crossing the Irish Sea each week.
Coveney said last week that Ireland would veto any Brexit deal which did not comply with the Good Friday Agreement, which commits to an open Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Hyslop and Coveney are also likely to discuss the Conservative deal with the DUP at Westminster — which both the Irish and Scottish Government criticised.
The DUP agreed to back any UK Government legislation on Brexit. But Northern Ireland, like Scotland, voted to remain and Coveney suggested pro-Remain representatives in the country should have an input into the UK/EU negotiations.
Hyslop’s visit comes after the Scottish Government established a quasi “embassy” called an innovation and investment Hub in Dublin last year.
As well as meeting Coveney, she is also expected to meet with the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin Moran, and Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee.
Opportunities for Scottish-Irish collaborative cultural projects are also to be discussed.
The visit comes some seven months after the First Minister travelled to Dublin where she backed calls for a “Celtic corridor” of closer business ties between Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
She was hailed as a “shining light” in world affairs by Irish politicians after she became the first head of a foreign government to address the Irish Parliament’s upper House, the Seanad.
A number of members of the Seanad asked Nicola Sturgeon how they could help Scotland to “achieve its inevitable and full potential” and become an independent nation.
During her visit Hyslop will also host a business breakfast with a range of sector leaders spanning tourism, energy, food and agriculture, finance and the sciences.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel