March 2017
Teagasc and Luke agree an MOU in Suomi 100 Year
29 March 2017
Ambassador Colm Ó Floinn hosted a signing ceremony at the Residence for a Memorandum of Understanding on future co-operation between Teagasc, Ireland’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority and its counterpart organisation Luke, Finland’s Natural Resources Institute on 29 March 2017. The MOU was signed, following a meeting between the two sides, by Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle and Luke President and CEO, Professor Mari Walls. Teagasc and Luke have had good links up to now and it is intended to expand their co-operation under the new MOU.
Visit of Ireland’s Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, to Finland
21-23 March 2017
The Chief of Staff of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Defence Forces of Ireland, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett visited Finland in Suomi 100 Year from 21 to 23 March 2017 at the invitation of his counterpart, Finland’s Chief of Defence, General Jarmo Lindberg. The visit was a return one for a visit to Ireland last year by General Lindberg.
Ireland and Finland have co-operated for many years on UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in Lebanon, and also in the EU Nordic Battlegroup. The two Chiefs and accompanying officers held discussions at Finland’s Defence Command in Helsinki. Admiral Mellet also laid wreaths at the Cross of Heroes and Marshal Mannerheim’s tomb during a military ceremony at Hietaniemi Cemetery, gave a lecture at the Finnish National Defence University in Santahamina and visited the Finnish Air Force Pirkkala airbase in Tampere. From the Embassy, Ambassador Colm Ó Floinn and Deputy Head of Mission Caoimh Kett participated in the Irish delegation.
St. Patrick’s Day Ball in Helsinki
18 March 2017
Months in the planning, the Irish Cultural Association (ICA Helsinki) held their fourth very successful St. Patrick’s Day Ball at Pörssi on Saturday 18 March. Members of the resident Irish community, the Helsinki Harps GAA team, the Irish Finnish Business Network, the Finnish Irish Society, the Finnish Irish Business Club and the friends of Irish Whiskey Association attended the celebrations. The Ball was supported by the Embassy of Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia, as well as a number of other sponsors.
Ambassador hosts St. Patrick’s Day Reception
16 March 2017
Ambassador Colm Ó Floinn hosted the St. Patrick’s Day reception at the Residence on 16 March. Among the capacity attendance were President Martti Ahtisaari, Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Timo Soini, Chief of Defence General Jarmo Lindberg, Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen and Finnish Film Director Aku Louhimies, whose credits include the Rebellion series broadcast on both RTÉ and YLE.
February 2017
Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charles Flanagan TD, to Finland
9-10 February 2017
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan TD, visited Helsinki on 9 and 10 February at the invitation of his counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Timo Soini. During their talks on board the Finnish Coastguard ship Turva, Minister Flanagan conveyed his best wishes and congratulations to his counterpart for Suomi/Finland 100 Year. The talks between the two Ministers covered bilateral relations, the UK’s exit from the EU and a range of international issues. The Ministers were accompanied by the Ambassador of Finland to Ireland, H.E. Jaana Teckenberg and the Ambassador of Ireland to Finland, H.E. Colm Ó Floinn and senior officials.
During his visit to Finland, Minister Flanagan also met with President Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the CMI (Crisis Management Initiative). The Minister updated President Ahtisaari, who played a significant role in the Northern Ireland peace process, on the situation there and also discussed a range of international issues with him. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland provides ongoing support to CMI.