On 8-11 October 2013 Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann Sean Barrett, TD, paid an official visit to Ukraine.
During the visit talks with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak, Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov and Deputy Minister - Chief of Staff of the MFA of Ukraine Andriy Olefirov were held.
Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett attended the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plenary session and addressed the student audience of the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University.
During the official meetings a wide range of bilateral relations issues have been discussed, with special emphasis on the inter-parliamentary cooperation. In this regard a positive dynamics of Ukrainian-Irish relations was noted with satisfaction.
Special attention was paid by the parties to the preparation of the Vilnius Summit of the "Eastern Partnership". In this regard, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann expressed his believe that the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, including establishing of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, would be signed at the Summit and would facilitate further development of cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland.