Junior Ministers and have welcomed over 200 guests to the ‘Ulster Fry for
St Patrick's Day' breakfast networking event at the Office of the
Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels (ONIEB).
The annual event is an opportunity to promote Northern Ireland
and is attended by representatives from the European
Institutions, EU Member States, non-EU representatives based in
Brussels and other stakeholders.
Addressing guests at the event, Junior Minister said: "In the last
few years it has become more important than ever that our voice
is heard in the European Union.
“It is essential that we build contacts and networks to
help us monitor, and understand, policy and legislative
developments that impact us.
“The work of our Office in Brussels is central to this,
and we would like to thank you all for your continued support and
friendship.”
Junior Minister said: “We have a strong history of
innovation, identifying new and emerging opportunities, and
responding to global challenges.
“From the creative industries, agri-food, life and health
sciences, to advanced manufacturing and Fintech, we
boast a growing reputation on the world's economic
stage.
“We are open for investment and growth,
and we want to thrive, so that every person and every place
across Northern Ireland benefits.”
As part of their visit to the Belgian capital, the Junior
Ministers visited the European Parliament and Flemish Peace
Institute.
They also took part in a number of meetings with key diplomatic
figures, including Sandro Gozi MEP, Chair of the European
Parliament's Delegation to the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership
Assembly; Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador at the UK Mission to
the EU; Ambassador Aingeal O'Donoghue, Irish Permanent
Representative to the EU; and representatives from the Scottish,
Welsh, and the Channel Islands governments' Brussels offices.
