Philippines, Ireland ink MOU on bilateral consultations

On August 11, Ambassador William Carlos joined Secretary Enrique A. Manalo for the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will bring closer linkages at a senior-official level on issues of mutual priority. The consultation framework will provide a forum for alignment on issues of global importance, while also focusing on specific actions to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Carlos noted in his remarks that this is a “timely agreement,” as connections between Ireland and the

Philippines have greatly strengthened in recent years.

The Embassy of Ireland to the Philippines opened in November 2021, which opened new channels for business, education cooperation, cultural exchange, and political dialogue. The Philippine side has also announced its intention to open an embassy in the said European nation in the near future.

Meanwhile, the embassy disclosed that the number of Filipinos living in Ireland is still growing, and is already among the 10-largest diaspora groups there.

The establishment of the bilateral consultations mechanism marks a further deepening of this relationship and further dimension that strengthens the political cooperation between Ireland and the Philippines. After agreement signing, the deputation will be working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the preparation of the inaugural consultations.