Ireland is committed to strengthening trade links with Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore told a gathering of more than 300 European business leaders and ambassadors yesterday. The Tánaiste was addressing a meeting of the European Chamber of Commerce in Dublin.

Trade between Ireland and the EU and the four European Free Trade Association countries was worth more than €85 billion in 2010, the Minister said. The European Chamber of Ireland was established in 2009 to further trade links between Ireland and other European countries. Its membership is made up of trade bodies from 19 states.