Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives David Agius received a farewell call from Patrick Duffy, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland.
Deputy Speaker Agius expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Duffy for his hard work during his tenure of office in Malta, which has enhanced the very strong bilateral relations between Malta and Ireland.
Ambassador Duffy recalled last May’s state visit by Michael Higgins, President of the Republic of Ireland, as well as his four-year stay in Malta which he described as a wonderful experience. He also mentioned Ireland’s constant sharing of good practices vis-à-vis Malta’s UNSC bid, including the secondment of a Maltese diplomat with the Permanent Mission of Ireland in New York.
Deputy Speaker Agius and Ambassador Duffy also discussed issues of mutual interest such as the political situation in the two countries, including the coalition of the Irish Government and the co-operation between the House of Representatives of Malta and the Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives) of Ireland, particularly the formation of a parliamentary friendship group between the two parliaments.
The Maltese diaspora in Ireland and the Irish citizens working in Malta, the twinning agreement between Marsascala and Bundoran, a town in County Donegal in Ireland, as well as the picking-up of the tourist sector also featured in the discussion between the two dignitaries.
Source: Office of the Prime Minister