Taoiseach of Ireland Highlights Shared Values With Luxembourg at Irish Community Reception

On Thursday 24 July 2025, the Irish Embassy in Luxembourg hosted a community reception for the visit of Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Micheál Martin, at the Irish Ambassador’s residence in Luxembourg-Ville.

The event, hosted by Ambassador of Ireland to Luxembourg, Jean McDonald, welcomed members from across Luxembourg’s Irish community and featured as part of the Taoiseach’s two-day visit to the Grand Duchy, during which he will meet with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and President of the European Investment Bank, Nadia Calvino.

Ambassador McDonald opened the event with a speech welcoming the Taoiseach to the Grand Duchy and thanking the guests for their contribution to the Irish community in Luxembourg. She described the Taoiseach’s presence as “an immense privilege” and said: “In the almost two years that I have been here, I have witnessed first-hand the incredible contribution that the Irish community makes to life in Luxembourg, be it at the new institutions, the economic side, business, culture, community and they have done that over successive decades.” She added: “This is a community that really values the bilateral relationship between Ireland and Luxembourg.”

During his speech, the Taoiseach thanked the Irish Ambassador and guests for their welcome and spoke of his appreciation of the work undertaken by both the Irish Embassy and the Irish community in Luxembourg in helping to strengthen the relationship between Luxembourg and Ireland. 

Discussing his visit to Luxembourg, his first as Taoiseach, he said: “Ireland values very much our close, bilateral relationship with Luxembourg. It has been a very close partner with Ireland on many political and economic issues. Fundamentally, we are bound by a relationship of shared values, on the seats of democracy and the rule of law. Ireland and Luxembourg both understand that for small and open societies and economies such as ours, the international rules-based system supports our values and our interests.” He added: “These are very difficult times for multilateral structures that have protected our peace and prosperity for decades. War in Ukraine, humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and uncertainty around our transatlantic trading relationship present very complex and unprecedented challenges, all happening at once. So, it is all the more important at times like this to talk to our friends and like-minded partners, which is the main reason I am in Luxembourg today.”

The Taoiseach then spoke of his upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Frieden and remarked on building on the “excellent meeting” they had when Prime Minister Frieden visited Dublin in September 2024. He noted that talks will focus economic issues where both countries have a shared interest, including economic competitiveness, the future of the single market, the savings and investment union and the recently published proposals for the European Union's next seven-year budget. He also highlighted Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the European Union, which will begin in July 2026, and said that preparations are already underway to ensure Ireland will be “primed and ready to deliver an impactful and productive presidency, which will be to the benefit of the Union's citizens.”

He remarked: “We as a government, place great value on you and on the Irish community here in Luxembourg and that is why we attach such importance to our diaspora policy, because that policy recognises the incredible work that you do in flying the flag for Ireland, day in and day out, contributing significantly to the local economy, volunteering across all the groups that you represent.” In closing he said: “I thank you sincerely for all that you do and the importance of those fundamental values that our two countries share.”

After the speeches, attendees enjoyed food and drinks as the Taoiseach met with those in attendance.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The relationship between the government of Luxembourg and Ireland is very strong. Prime Minister Frieden and I are anxious to intensify that engagement, the bilateral engagement and also discuss the big issues of the day, then focus in on how Europe can become more competitive, particularly in terms of developing proposals around the savings and investment union that works and speaks to the strength of the financial funds industry in Ireland and in Luxembourg.”

UPDATED to correct a a typographical error.