Junior Ministers welcome guests to ‘Ulster Fry for St Patrick’s Day’ in Brussels
Date published:
Junior Ministers Pam Cameron and Aisling Reilly have travelled to Brussels for a series of engagements designed to develop and strengthen the Executive’s relationship with the European Union.
The Junior Ministers today welcomed around 170 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, which is attended by representatives from the European Institutions, EU Member States, non-EU representatives based in Brussels and other stakeholders, showcases NI’s excellent regional produce as well as helping the ONIEB build relationships and networks.
Speaking at the event, Junior Minister Cameron said:
“As a small, outward-looking economy, our overseas engagement is key to our ambition to building a more prosperous region. Northern Ireland's economy will grow better through foreign direct investment, support and collaboration with our European neighbours.”
Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said:
“I am delighted we have had the opportunity to come together for a series of engagements in Brussels, including the ‘Ulster Fry for St Patrick’s Day’ event. We want to deliver for all our citizens and it is important that our voice is heard here in Brussels.”
Minister Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, also attended the event.
As part of their visit to the Belgian capital, the Junior Ministers also took part in a number of meetings with key diplomatic figures, including Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue, Irish Permanent Representative to the EU, Nick Leake, Political Counsellor and Deputy Head of the UK Mission to the EU, and Élise Wattrelot, Executive Secretary of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions Atlantic Arc Commission.