diplomacy

Irish ambassador Concannon makes official visit to Quebec capital

Peter Black

peterblack@qctonline.com

To put a twist on a familiar song, Irish eyes seem to be smiling on a new relationship between Ireland and Canada, a bond that could lead to greater trade opportunities.

So says John Concannon, Ireland’s new ambassador to Canada, who made his first official visit to meet Quebec government officials in the provincial capital on May 20.

The visit, during which he met several ministers, toured a local robotics company run by an Irishman and did the rounds of local media, including a Radio-Canada interview en français, was actually his third trip to Quebec City since he presented his credentials to Governor General Mary Simon in October.

Concannon, accompanied by Quebec City honorary Irish consul Bryan O’Gallagher, talked with the QCT over coffee at an Old City restaurant about the opportunities for co-operation between Canada and Ireland in light of “huge geopolitical changes happening.”

The energetic Concannon comes to his first diplomatic posting fresh from leading the Global Ireland initiative, a 2018 program to expand the country’s presence around the world, opening some 27 missions, including three in Canada.

Bringing a background in business to government, Con- cannon has worked as a senior diplomat in the foreign service, with the national tourism bureau, the department of culture and heritage and in the Taoiseach’s (prime minister’s) office. The father of three daughters with his wife Mary, he has also served as vice- president of his alma mater, the University of Galway.

Concannon sums up his background, saying, “What all these things have in common is the promoting of Ireland.” When the position of Irish ambassador to Canada became open last year, he was considered “a good fit” and offered the job. So far, he can report “it’s been a really remarkable and really, really positive experience, I have to say.”

Promoting trade, of course, is at the top of the ambassador’s agenda, and he hopes to boost further trade between Ireland and Canada that has already seen a sharp rise since Canada signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union (EU) in 2017.

Although Ireland is one of several countries that has yet to officially ratify the agree- ment – Concannon says the new Irish government is committed to it – trade between Canada and Ireland has soared from $4 billion a year to $16 billion since CETA was signed.

Concannon notes Ireland is Canada’s 10th biggest investor, with some 350 Irish businesses with operations here. In turn, Canada has about 100 companies with European headquarters in Ireland.

He said Ireland has everything it takes for Canadian businesses looking towards Europe for opportunities for expansion – “a business-friendly environment, attractive tax regime, really good talent and English-speaking.”

He said, “If you’re thinking about Europe, we can be pathfinders to help explain the bureaucratic, the legislative, the legal dimensions.” Concannon’s new mission as ambassador to Canada coincides with the rise to power of a prime minister who has not only Irish roots, but Irish citizenship – until he recently renounced it – as well as his British passport.

Concannon, who has met Mark Carney on several occasions, said the prime minister “very strongly identifies with his Irish roots, and we are immensely proud of him, and we very much see him as one of the family.”

The ambassador notes Carney’s first public appearance as prime minister was to march in the St. Patrick’s parade in Montreal on March 16, which happened to be his 60th birthday. “It was electric. The love on the streets was tangible.”

After marching in Montreal’s St. Patrick’s parade with Carney, Concannon came to Quebec City the following weekend to take part in the city’s own Irish parade and celebrations.

Though Concannon has now visited Quebec City three times since he became ambassador, he will be returning to the region soon for an event at the Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site.

He describes the welcome people in Quebec City and Montreal accorded to tens of thousands of desperate and sick Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine beginning in 1847 as “just a gargantuan act of compassion and humanity.”

Concannon will travel to the site on June 11 to place pairs of bronze shoes at the island memorial. The shoes were cast from those found in a bundle in an abandoned cottage in Roscommon, Ireland, as part of a program called the National Famine Way.

Barely six months into the posting, Concannon is full of optimism for future Irish-Canadian relations. “It’s a time of great change in the world, but it’s also a time of great opportunity – and we’re up for it, and we will always have Canada’s back, and we see ourselves as great, great friends.”