Speaker Ghimire returns home after wrapping visit to Ireland

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has today returned home after wrapping his seven days visit to Ireland.

The Nepali delegation led by Speaker Ghimire which reached Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland on the invitation of Sean O Fearghail, Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament of Ireland, Dail Eireann, returned home. Upon landing in the Tribhuvan International Airport, at a press conference, Speaker Ghimire said during the visit, there were extensive discussions on the exchange of parliamentary activities between the two countries.

"On the issue of strengthening the relationship between the parliaments of the two countries, I have discussed with O Fearghail, Speaker of the Lower House, Dail Eireann and Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, the Upper House of Ireland. We have also discussed the issue of increasing efficiency of the parliament staff," he said.

The meeting with the President and ministers has created a climate conducive through which Nepal could benefit in the fields of education and health, he informed. The issues of giving concessions to Nepali students, arrangement of visas, employment of Nepali human resources with technical skills were also discussed, said the Speaker.

The meeting also discussed the subject of bringing in technology and investment development by Ireland in health and agriculture, he informed.

During the visit, he said he held discussions with the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Speaker and Chairman of both Houses of Ireland, senior ministers of the Government of Ireland and Nepali community. The delegation included Secretary of the House of Representatives of the Government of Nepal, Padam Prasad Pandey and Speaker Ghimire's chief private secretary Tej Prakash Bhattarai.

On the protests against the Education Bill, Speaker Ghimire said he would play as Speaker to push the Bill forward. "I will do what should be the role of Speaker to put the Bill forward. The Bill will be taken to the Parliament, discussed and agreed upon. If there is no agreement on it, it will be concluded through the due process," he said.