New Delhi: Ireland stands firmly with India in the fight against terrorism, which has no place in any society, Irish Ambassador to India Kevin Kelly said on Wednesday.
In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, he condemned the recent attacks on Indian nationals in Ireland. He said that the Irish Police Force has set up special units to communicate with and support the community.
Kelly underlined that Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were among the first international leaders to condemn the latest terrorist attack in India.
"We are not new to experiencing terrorism. Our island of Ireland has also been plagued by bloodshed for decades due to acts of terrorism from different sides," he said.
The Ambassador described Ireland as a very popular destination for Indian students and professionals - English-speaking, safe, part of the 550 million-strong European Union single market, close to the UK and home to major American companies. He also said that Ireland offers guaranteed post-study work rights.
Kelly said the Irish government has strongly condemned recent attacks on members of the Indian community in Ireland, has set up special police units and expressed public solidarity.
"These attacks were carried out by young thugs who do not represent the communities they belong to," he added. "Special units of the Irish Police Force have been set up to communicate and support the Indian community. I am very happy to say that at least one arrest has been made, I know that, there could be more," he added.
The ambassador's remarks come amid a rise in attacks on Indian nationals in Ireland, particularly in Dublin and its suburbs. This has heightened fear in the community of over 60,000 Indians - the largest non-white ethnic group in the country and a major contributor to sectors such as healthcare, IT and nursing.
The Indian embassy has reported 13 confirmed cases since July, including attacks on professionals, a taxi driver, a data scientist and a six-year-old girl.
Announcing Ireland as a partner country for the 26th Hornbill Festival to be held in Nagaland in December 2025, the Irish Ambassador also highlighted the deepening cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
"We are very excited to be a part of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland this year. We have a band called Boyne, which has members from the Irish band Mary Wallopers, who are famous for reviving Irish folk music in Europe," he said.
At the festival, Ireland will showcase a major Celtic art sculpture of the goddess Danu, created jointly by Irish and Bengali artists, which will dominate the Kohima skyline.
On the economic front, Kelly pointed out that bilateral trade between Ireland and India is already around €16 billion, but he said there is significant untapped potential.
The Ireland-India Economic Advisory Council, launched in 2024, provides recommendations to remove trade barriers and deepen cooperation in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, IT and health, he said.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.