Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, greets Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, of Ireland, in his West Block office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday.

Nearly a decade after Canada and the European Union signed a comprehensive trade deal, Ireland’s Taoiseach, the equivalent to its Prime Minister, says his country will ratify the pact before the end of the year.

Ireland is also planning a trade mission to Canada in the coming months.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke with The Globe and Mail Thursday at the residence of Irish ambassador John Concannon in Ottawa after a meeting earlier in the day with Prime Minister Mark Carney .

“What we want to do is have a comprehensive state trade visit to Canada,” he said, adding that there will be interim visits from Ireland’s

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