FNC Speaker, Irish counterpart discuss visa waiver for UAE citizens

Abu Dhabi, May 21, 2013 (WAM) - Mohammed Ahmed Al-Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) met yesterday with Sean Barrett, the Speaker of the Lower House of the Irish Parliament (Dail) at the Secretariat General of the FNC, and discussed exempting UAE citizens from current visa requirements. Al-Murr affirmed that since the relations between the UAE and Ireland have reached an advanced stage, this required further progress in ties to meet the aspirations of the two friendly countries, especially as there are a large number of Emiratis who visit the European Union (EU) in general and Ireland in particular for study, medical treatment and investment, adding that exempting UAE citizens from existing visa requirements would contribute to developing relations for the advantage of the two countries. For his part, Sean Barrett affirmed that he will follow up the issue with the concerned authorities in his country to make it easier for UAE nationals to get a visa with quick and easy procedures, stressing that this issue would contribute to push forward the relations between the two countries for the best. Also present at the meeting were Amal Al Qubaisi, First Deputy Speaker of the FNC and Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazroui, Secretary General of the FNC as well as the Irish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ciaran Madden. Al-Murr welcomed his Irish counterpart and hailed the strong relations between the UAE and Ireland in all fields, particularly the political, economic and tourist domains. He also discussed ways of developing ties between the FNC and Dail, and ways of activating friendship committees between the two sides in order to exchange expertise in all aspects. The FNC Speaker asserted that President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the sponsor of the march of FNC empowerment continues the same approach since assuming his constitutional powers and the democratic experience in the UAE is successful, thanks to the support of the wise leadership, in addition to the citizens' awareness and their keenness to work to put the UAE in the rank of the developed countries. Amal Al Qubaisi reviewed the country's interest in educating and empowering woman in all fields as well as participation in political work, adding that Sheikh Khalifa is leading the empowerment march of woman in order for them to occupy the highest rank in all fields as a continuation of the march of the Founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Al Murr and Barrett discussed a number of political, economic, regional and international issues. For his part, Barrett reviewed the work mechanism of the parliament and its legislative and monitoring function, stressing the strong relations between the UAE and Ireland. He also added that bilateral relations between the two countries are outstanding in all areas and have turned in a short period of time to become a strong partnership, including coordination in all sectors, and lauding the parliamentary march in the country with the participation of women as parliamentarians. – Emirates News Agency, WAM