Minister Heydon's speech at Expo 2025

Mr Martin Heydon, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, participated in Ireland’s National Day Event at Expo, as the official guest of the Government of Japan.

The following is his speech from the official ceremony.

"Dear friends, good morning. It is a pleasure to be representing Ireland on our National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

Ireland participated in the 1970 World Expo in Osaka – the first World Expo to be held in Asia.

55 years later, we are here again in Osaka, among friends. In these years, Ireland Japan relations have grown closer and stronger.

Our island nations, located at either ends of the Eurasian landmass, may be geographically far apart, but we have much in common.

We are likeminded countries that value peace, democracy and a fairer world for all. We value community. We value creativity.

Ireland and Japan signed a Joint Statement in 2022 committing to work together for a better world. We do this by showing leadership in response to global challenges, implementing the 2030 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening multilateral institutions.

In the Joint Statement, Ireland and Japan also committed to increase our trade and economic ties, and our people-to-people links.

Ireland’s participation in Expo provides a concrete example of acting on these commitments. It has proved a wonderful platform to engage with people from across Japan.

Our diaspora and affinity diaspora, many of whom I see here in green today, are a key representation of flourishing relations between Ireland and Japan.

Dear friends, we are in an era of global turbulence with conflicts causing hardship to millions around the world.

However, Expo is a beacon of hope in such times. The beautiful Grand Ring represents unity and diversity.

Expo is about the world coming together to showcase the best of humanity and to think about how we can work together to address challenges that we all face on our shared planet.

The theme of the Ireland Pavilion is ‘Creativity Connects People’.

Through our presence at Expo we seek to remind the world of the importance of human connection, and how lives can be empowered through the spirit of creativity.

Finally, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Japan, and to the people of Kansai and Osaka for the welcome they have given to the world.

I would also like to thank the Expo Association and the BIE (Bureau for International Expositions) and all the participants for hosting such a wonderful event for the World.

Expo reminds us of the best of humanity, and what can be achieved when people work together.

Congratulations to all."

Martin Heydon is the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine.