Tánaiste Simon Coveney meets with Sierra Leone Foreign Minister during visit to Dublin
Press release
14 February 2019
Tánaiste Simon Coveney meets with Sierra Leone Foreign Minister during visit to Dublin
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said:
“I look forward to meeting with Minister Kabba and to renewing our discussion on how to strengthen Ireland’s relations with Sierra Leone, including in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on International Development. Ireland and Sierra Leone share an interest in a functioning, rules based international order and links between our countries go back over 150 years, when Irish missionaries first arrived in Freetown.
Today, we will share our experiences of encouraging economic development, managing social change, and, importantly, sustaining peace.”
Ireland is working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to improve nutrition for women and children and supporting girls’ access to education. Ireland actively supported the smooth operation of the 2018 elections in Sierra Leone, which resulted in the second peaceful transfer of power since the end of the country’s civil war in 2002. In the post-election period, Ireland is supporting the government’s plans to provide free education to children of school-going age.
The Ministers will also discuss multilateral cooperation between Ireland and Sierra Leone, as well as the Government’s plans to strengthen Ireland’s presence and influence in West Africa as part of the Global Ireland strategy.
ENDS
Press Office
13 February 2019
Notes to Editor
- Ireland’s support to Sierra Leone since first opening a development cooperation office there in 2005 totals more than €125 million.
- Ireland’s new strategy for cooperation with Sierra Leone will be rolled out over a five-year period from 2019, with an indicative budget of €55 million. It aims to improve the nutritional status of women and children, empower women and girls, ensure that girls are benefitting from quality education, and empower citizens to engage with inclusive and accountable democratic institutions and processes.
