Ireland Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030 Launch

On 26 November 2025, the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, and the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney MSP, met at Iveagh House to discuss bilateral relations and to launch the new Ireland Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030. 

Minister Richmond and First Minister Swinney reaffirmed the very positive relations shared by Ireland and Scotland and set out both Governments’ shared ambition to further deepen this important bilateral relationship. 

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss latest political developments across Ireland and Scotland, and to welcome the upcoming British Irish Council Summit, which will be held in Cardiff in December.

Over the last four years, Ireland and Scotland have worked jointly on six thematic areas where the Scottish Government has devolved responsibility. As the Ireland-Scotland relationship continues to evolve and grow, the framework for our cooperation needs to do so too. It is with this aim that the new Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030 has been agreed, to provide strategic direction and concrete actions for cooperation to the end of the decade. 

Joining Minister Richmond and the First Minister to mark the launch of the new Bilateral Cooperation Framework were a group of key stakeholders, who have been central to much of the progress achieved over the last four years and who will be active participants in further growing the Ireland-Scotland relationship. These stakeholders included:

• ESB and SSE who have invested billions in the renewable energy sector in both countries, with ESB and the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh hosting annual events in the Scottish Parliament exploring and showcasing Irish-Scottish economic and cultural ties.
• UCD and the University of Strathclyde who have forged exciting links on space research and brought together experts from both countries, to collaborate on the developing space economy and deepen research links. Scottish academics provided considerable support to the launch of Ireland’s first indigenous satellite, Eirsat-1; and with Glasgow manufacturing more satellites annually than any region outside of the United States, there are significant opportunities for further collaboration in the years ahead.
• Representatives of the Scottish Government’s Global Scots network in Ireland, who have made considerable contributions to Irish and Scottish economic activity in sectors such as software development and the construction industry. Irish community groups in Scotland, who have contributed to cultural and sporting links across the Irish Sea. GAA Scotland have provided a framework for community and sporting engagement across Scotland and most recently supported the first hurling and camogie double-header against their Scottish counterparts which was hosted in Inverness and shared to a global audience by the BBC. The Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, who have overseen joint government funding projects to support cultural institutions post pandemic and ongoing grants for joint research projects between Irish and Scottish academics.
• Údarás na Gaeltachta, who have supported events to grow collaboration between Donegal and Harris tweed, and to address economic and social challenges faced by Irish and Scots Gaelic speaking communities. In the years ahead Údarás na Gaeltachta will formally deepen its cooperation with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on economic growth, community development and cultural preservation.  
• Culture Ireland, who has supported multiple Irish artists to travel to Scotland and held Showcase Ireland events in Scotland’s world-class festivals, including the August Edinburgh Festivals and Glasgow’s Celtic Connections. 

The new Bilateral Cooperation Framework can be accessed at the following link: Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030

ENDS

26 November 2025