The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien, opened the new Canada Room at the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation in Co Wicklow yesterday as part of a three-day official visit to the State.
Earlier Mr Chretien met the Taoiseach privately to discuss a variety of topics including Kosovo, the North and the continuing links between Canada and Ireland.
Mr Chretien later paid a brief courtesy call to the President, Mrs McAleese, at Aras an Uachtarain.
A large Canadian delegation, including several business people and high-ranking politicians, is taking part in the visit.
The Canadian Trade Minister, Mr Sergio Marchi, was here as head of a business development mission made up of representatives of around 40 Canadian companies. The business trip was designed to coincide with the Prime Minister's visit.
Mr Marchi met the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, to sign a memorandum of understanding on transport allowing for future maritime and aviation links to be established between the countries.
"Canada and Ireland are both gateways to enormous continent-wide markets. This fact provides tremendous opportunities to develop strategic business alliances for both investment and trade," according to Mr Marchi. A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the purpose of the visit was to promote awareness of Canada's business interests here and to encourage commercial partnership between the two countries. Investment in the State by Canada totals around £4 billion.
etien and his wife, Aline, to The Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, where Mr Chretien opened the Canada Room yesterday, has received funding from the Canadian government. According to a spokesman at the centre, the new Canada room has been so named "in acknowledgement of the important role that Canada has played in the peace process".
At the centre, Mr Chretien and his wife, Aline, met young people from both sides of the Border who are involved in some of the centres programmes for reconciliation.
Tomorrow, the Canadian Prime Minister will visit the Famine Memorial at Custom House Quay and tour the Canadian CD ROM manufacturing company Saturn Solutions at Citywest Business Park in Dublin.
The delegation will then host a lunch for the Government at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, before leaving for Canada.