Welcome to the Ireland Canada Business Association
The Ireland Canada Business Association (ICBA) was founded in 1978 with the mandate of promoting and developing trade and industrial links between Ireland and Canada. The organisation is a non-profit bilateral trade association (effectively acting as a quasi chamber of commerce). The Patron of the Association is the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Loyola Hearn.
The Association's members are typically drawn from a wide range of Irish and Canadian firms from the financial services, manufacturing and services sectors with operations in Canada or Ireland.
An important aim of the Association for the coming year is to facilitate interaction among members with networking events of the highest calibre.
| NEWSFLASH |
The ICBA and the Air Access committee welcome Air Canada announcement "Toronto-Dublin Flights will be extended year-round in 2014"
After extensive campaigning by the Ireland Canada Business Association and the Air Access Committee, Air Canada announced today that it's Toronto-Dublin Flights will be extended Year-round in 2014. Air Canada Rouge will commence year-round service starting May 1, 2014. Since 2009 the ICBA has lobbied for year round flights as critical to the infrastructure of Ireland Canada trade and has considered that the benefits for Ireland from year round direct flights to be significant in terms of more tourism, an increase in the number of Irish companies exporting to Canada and a larger proportion of Canadian investment into Ireland. With the Air Access Committee, the ICBA welcomes this initiative.
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Ireland Canada Business Gathering September 27th 2013
The Ireland Canada Chambers of Commerce and the Ireland Canada Business Association in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Conach International will be hosting a one day business summit in Dublin on 27th September. This will be an opportunity to profile the many business relationships that exist between Ireland and Canada, to focus on the opportunities that exist across both economies and to examine the successes that have been achieved by Irish and Canadian companies collaborating in the ICT, Renewable energy, pharmaceutical and food sectors.
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| Air Canada and Aer Lingus sign Interline Agreement |
The ICBA welcome an agreement which marks the first step to code sharing, year-round service to Ireland.
Air Canada and Aer Lingus have announced they have signed an interline agreement to make flying between Canada and Ireland more convenient. The agreement is effective immediately and is a preliminary step toward a full code sharing relationship expected to be finalized next year between the Canadian and Irish flag carriers. "Air Canada is pleased to interline with Aer Lingus as it will complement our Toronto-Dublin seasonal service to make it easy to fly year-round between Canada and Ireland via convenient connections through London Heathrow Airport, Air Canada's largest international station. We intend to follow through with other measures to enhance the experience for customers traveling between Canada and Ireland, including a full code share relationship with Aer Lingus beginning next year, the planned relocation of both carriers to Terminal 2 at Heathrow to facilitate connections and following that the introduction of year-round flights between Canada and Ireland," said Marcel Forget, Vice President Network Planning at Air Canada.
"We are delighted to announce this new partnership. We look forward to working closely with Air Canada to provide our customers with seamless travel options between Ireland and Canada," said Stephen Kavanagh, Chief Commercial Officer at Aer Lingus.
As a result of the agreement, customers flying Air Canada and Aer Lingus are now able to enjoy the additional flexibility and ease offered by the availability of a single electronic ticket. The agreement enables customers to use both carriers' check-in kiosks and to through-check their baggage to final destination. Currently, Air Canada flies Toronto-Dublin non-stop daily during the summer, from June until October 13, and customers can connect through London-Heathrow, where Air Canada operates from eight Canadian gateways into Heathrow, with 12 daily flights in summer and nine in winter. |
| Ireland - Excellent Location for Mining Investment |
| Canada's Fraser Institute in its 2011 Survey of Mining Companies reports that Ireland has climbed from 16th position to 9th as an attractive destination for mineral exploration and mining investment. It is a significant achievement for Ireland to be in the Top 10 alongside New Brunswick and other Canadian provinces.
The full survey can be accessed at http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/display.aspx?id=18046. |
Speech by the Honourable
Jim Flaherty
Canadian Minister of Finance
to the ICBA
October 17, 2011
Download |
 ICBA CALLS FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN IRELAND AND CANADA
ON A YEAR ROUND BASIS
Research conducted by ICBA reveals compelling business case for year round direct flights between Ireland and Canada.
To read full report click here … |
ADDRESS FROM THE IRISH AMBASSADOR TO CANADA - DR. RAY BASSETT |
 Dr. Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada
It is my great pleasure to express my support for the work of the Ireland Canada Business Association in developing relationships between Irish and Canadian business people and promoting trade and investment between our two countries. In my role at the Embassy of Ireland in Canada, I can see first-hand the strength and depth of the links that exist between the Irish and Canadian people, and the great potential that there is to enhance our trade relationship even further.
I regard the ICBA as an important body in that regard. It is a pro-active organisation, which brings considerable strength and expertise to the promotion of economic links between Ireland and Canada. I witnessed this at first hand when the ICBA organised a promotional visit to Canada last March which included business meetings in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.
Canada has provided a warm welcome and a new homeland to many thousands of Irish people throughout our shared history, extending back to the 17th century, and it continues to be a popular destination for young Irish people today. I was delighted with the decision of the Canadian authorities to expand the International Experience Canada working holiday programme this year, to allow up to 5,000 young Irish citizens the opportunity to live and work in Canada for a period of up to two years. Equally, it is encouraging to note that several hundred Canadian students are enrolled in higher education in Ireland and are enjoying all that student life in our cities has to offer. Cultural and academic exchanges such as these are key to building the personal relationships and business networks that will benefit both of our countries in the future.
Today, bilateral trade between Ireland and Canada is growing steadily. Canada receives almost 25% of Ireland’s foreign direct investment abroad, while Ireland is the fifth largest recipient of Canadian investment. Shared values and work practices, together with a number of bilateral agreements in areas such as research and development, make Irish and Canadian companies natural partners. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) currently being negotiated between the European Union and Canada has the potential to further open access to our markets to one another, and to facilitate freer movement of workers between our shores. This is an exciting time in relations between our two countries.
I wish the ICBA every success with their initiatives. The work they are doing in promoting business links between Ireland and Canada is very valuable is sure to be of great benefit to all involved. |
| PATRON'S ADDRESS |
 Patron of Ireland Canada Business Association
Loyola W. Hearn, Ambassador to the Embassy of Canada in Ireland
On behalf of the Embassy of Canada in Ireland and as the Patron of the Ireland Canada Business Association (ICBA), I am pleased to welcome you to this website.
Relations between Ireland and Canada have always been close - with approximately four million Canadians claiming Irish ancestry. I come from Newfoundland where 50% of the population claim Irish ancestry and where in my own home area, practically everyone is of Irish descent. While family ties form the basis of these relations, shared values and interests between our two countries have further strengthened the Canada-Ireland relationship, particularly in meeting the challenges of domestic and global governance. There is a growing dialogue, increased cooperation and sharing of "best practices" in areas such as education, parliamentary reform, healthcare, and in other social and economic policies.
Trade between the two countries is constantly growing, complemented by an increasing number of bilateral research and development initiatives, investment projects and joint ventures. A Blue Skies air agreement signed between Ireland and Canada in April 2007 now allows Canadian and Irish air carriers to provide services between any city in Canada and Ireland. We must take greater advantage of this opportunity.
The Embassy of Canada views the ICBA as an important ally, particularly as it strives to promote Canada as a globally competitive location and partner for investment, innovation and value-added production. Irish companies who are looking for a key entry point into the North America Free Trade Agreement market will find Canadian cities to be among the most cost competitive production locations in the world, while Canadian firms looking for a springboard into Europe, the Middle East and Africa will also find key advantages in Ireland.
If you are interested in further exploring this commercial relationship with one of the strongest economies in the world, I would encourage you to contact the Canadian Embassy, which has a team of dedicated Trade Commissioners that can assist you, as well as the ICBA which can expose you to a valuable network of professionals who have experience in doing business with Canada.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to wish the Ireland Canada Business Association every success as it endeavours to carry out an ambitious program of activities this year. |
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| EVENTS |
Guest speaker Frankie Sheahan addressing audience at Maple Leaf Dinner, Friday, 23rd November
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AGM Dail Eireann
5 September 2012
with Guest Speaker
Kingsley Aikins
Mary Mitchell O’ Connor,TD
speaking at AGM
Kingsley Aikins speaking at AGM
David Quirke, newly elected Chair, speaking at AGM
Ambassador Loyola Hearn with Kingsley Aikins at AGM
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Chief Economist Forum
Douglas Porter, Deputy Chief Economist Bank of Montreal
at ICBA Chief Economist Forum
Fergal O'Brien, Chief Economist IBEC addressing ICBA
 Dr. Pat Ivory, IBEC,
speaking at Chief Economist Forum
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ICBA SUMMIT
March 2011, Toronto
Malachy Smith and Enda Newton
with Minister Arlene Foster
ICBA Chair Enda Newton and Board Member Cormac O Connell with Ambassador Ray Bassett and Deputy Minister of Finance Michael Horgan
Enda Newton with Ambassador Ray Basset and Honorable Jim Flaherty in Ottawa
ICBA Board Members outside Parliament Building Ottawa
March 2011
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Enterprise Ireland announces increase in trade from Ireland to Canada