Very productive meeting with Irish PM, says Narendra Modi

Dublin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Ireland on a two-nation tour, addressed the Indian community in Ireland's capital Dublin on Wednesday.

Here are the highlights:

• Want to apologize, that I should've given you all more time.
• In 2016 Ireland with celebrate 100 years of their independence movement.
• Back in the day India too was battling colonialism. Hence, India should participate in the celebrations.
• One passes over Ireland every time one flies to New York. Your love has brought me here this time.
• A concept of BRICS bloc was floated in the late '80s. There were speculations that 'I' as in India has derailed from its development path. That may be Ireland will take its place.
• Today, IMF World Bank and everybody else say that if there's anyone powerful in BRICS... it's India.
• If we can continue on this path for the next 30 years, there will be no poverty.
• No one in India has to lower his/her head today. The Indian military can compete with any other force in the world. That's real power.
• I thank you for coming in such large numbers. This was planned for a short period of time. But I assure you, the Indian prime minister will not take 60 years to visit again.

Earlier, Modi issued a joint statement with his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny. He sought Ireland's support for India's membership of UN Security council and international export control regimes including NSG during wide ranging talks with his Irish counterpart which also covered global challenges like terror and radicalisation.

During his nearly five-hour stopover en-route to the US, Modi, held talks with his Irish counterpart after which he hoped that Ireland's visa policy will be sensitive to the requirements of India's IT firms.