Carney expands Canada-Ireland AI ties on Dublin visit
Mon, 15th Jun 2026 (Today)
Prime Minister Mark Carney concluded a visit to Ireland after agreeing on closer cooperation with the Irish government. It was the first visit to Ireland by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade.
In Dublin, Carney met Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and the two sides outlined plans to deepen ties on various issues, including artificial intelligence. The talks also covered trade and investment links that have expanded sharply over the past decade.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Ireland reached CAD $6 billion in 2025, with Canadian exports to Ireland at CAD $1.1 billion and imports at CAD $4.9 billion, officials said. Ireland was also Canada's seventh-largest agri-food and seafood export market in the European Union last year, with exports valued at CAD $400.5 million and imports from Ireland totalling CAD $345.2 million.
AI and investment
One immediate commercial outcome highlighted during the visit was OpenText's decision to invest more than CAD $160 million in Cork to establish a European hub for artificial intelligence. The project was presented as part of a broader effort by both countries to work more closely on AI policy and commercial development.
This cooperation is expected to draw on Canada's "AI for All" strategy and Ireland's "Digital Ireland" strategy. Both governments want to deepen links in research, innovation and emerging technologies, including researcher mobility and commercialisation.
Health links
Healthcare and life sciences featured strongly in the discussions. The two countries said they would work together on regenerative medicine, pharmaceutical manufacturing, workforce development and biomanufacturing skills as they seek to strengthen health systems and supply chains.
Two memoranda of understanding were cited as evidence of that direction. One links the Toronto-based Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine with Ireland's RINN Advanced Therapies national research centre to explore the creation of a CCRM hub in Ireland. The other brings together the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences and Ireland's National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training.
Climate and defence
Climate cooperation was another part of the government's agenda. Canada and Ireland said they would increase engagement on clean technologies and methane mitigation and work together on emissions reduction through multilateral forums and international partnerships.
Security and defence ties were also discussed. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation through the Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership and the Security Action for Europe initiative, and committed to exploring practical cooperation between the Canadian Armed Forces and the Irish Defence Forces on maritime security training.
The discussions also touched on the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Carney and Martin noted Ireland's progress towards full ratification after amendments to the Arbitration Act were passed through the Irish parliament.
"With our common history and shared values, Canada and Ireland have developed a unique transatlantic worldview rooted in a simple conviction: we are stronger when we are connected. With this deeper cooperation, we are building new opportunities for our people. Together, we will be powerful, pivotal, and a purposeful force for good - reliable partners in a world that is anything but," said Carney.