Minister Byrne meets with President Maia Sandu in Chișinău

Minister Byrne meets with President Maia Sandu in Chișinău

• From: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Published on: 18 March 2026
• Last updated on: 18 March 2026

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (18 March) met the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, at the Presidential Palace in Chișinău, Moldova, during his St Patrick's Day visit.

Following the meeting, Minister Byrne said: "I am honoured to have met with President Sandu, as the first Irish Government representative to visit Chișinău, Moldova, as part of the St Patrick's Day Ministerial programme.

"During my meeting with President Sandu, we had the opportunity to discuss the strong bilateral relations between Ireland and Moldova, which have been further strengthened by the establishment of an Irish Embassy in Chișinău last year.

"My meeting with President Sandu has come at a particularly important time as Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July. As part of our Presidency, we will prioritise EU enlargement.

"The people of Moldova have been clear that they want their country to join the EU, and President Sandu and I had the opportunity to discuss Ireland's unwavering support for Moldova as a candidate country.

The Minister continued: "Ireland also acknowledges the impact that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had on Moldova, and the solidarity the country has shown with the Ukrainian people, by hosting a large number of refugees."

Before arriving in Chișinău, Minister Byrne celebrated St. Patrick's Day with engagements in Warsaw and Kyiv, where he was the first Irish Government Minister to visit Ukraine for St Patrick's Day.

ENDS

Press Office

18 March 2026