Talks between the Premier and the Lord Mayor of Dublin covered housing and the revival of urban communities, the Government said today.

David Burt made a “courtesy call” on James Geoghegan at Mansion House, the mayor’s official residence, when he was in the Irish city this week.

He said later: “It was intriguing to hear about the shared challenges between Bermuda and Dublin and to discuss their solutions for housing and urban regeneration.

“Dublin has done significant work regarding tech enablement and open data, and Bermuda will work with them to see if we can implement similar initiatives on island.”

The Premier and Minister of Finance was in Ireland on Tuesday as he concluded a visit to Britain and Europe.

Mr Burt was scheduled to meet finance minister Jack Chambers.

A spokeswoman for the Bermuda Government said that owing to “an urgent matter” Mr Chambers was unavailable and the Premier instead met Emma Cunningham, the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for the EU and International Division, as well as other key members of the ministry’s team.

She added: “Their discussions covered important topics such as climate change, taxation, insurance and European relations.”

Mr Burt left Bermuda on September 3 and travelled to London, Belgium, France and Ireland “in support of Bermuda’s interests, and to highlight the island’s significant role as a global business jurisdiction”, the spokeswoman said.

He returned to the island last night after the second tier of his engagement started this week with a visit to Paris.

The spokeswoman said that in the French capital, the Premier met tax officials from the OECD to discuss the implementation of Bermuda’s Global Minimum Tax as well as future work between the parties.

She added: “Premier Burt also met with George Stanfield, AXA’s Deputy Group CEO and general secretary.”

Mr Burt said: “It was important to touch base with AXA’s global leadership team to discuss the Bermuda market and ensure the Government of Bermuda remains a reliable partner for this well-recognised global brand that supports and creates jobs in our economy.”

In Brussels, the Premier jointly hosted Abir’s 17th International Insurance Regulatory Dialogue opening reception and marked the Bermuda Brussels Office’s fifth anniversary.

The spokeswoman said: “The Premier also engaged with officials from the European Commission, including representatives from the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, and the EU Council’s Code of Conduct Group to ensure that Bermuda continues to collaborate with our EU partners as Bermuda plays an ever-increasing role in the global economy.”

Mr Burt noted: “It was great to meet again with Ambassador Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby and the UK Mission team.

“I am grateful for the work they have done to support the Government of Bermuda Brussels Office over the last five years.

“This work ensures that Bermuda’s role in the global economy is understood, which supports our financial services industry and allows for the expansion of jobs for Bermudians.”

He added: “In my final engagement in Brussels, I met with Ambassador Helen Winter, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the EU.

“With a record number of Bermudians working in the reinsurance industry today, international engagement like this will help us ensure that the industry can continue to provide more jobs and opportunities for Bermudians in the future.”

The Premier earlier met the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, and Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth General Secretary.

He visited the Lord Mayor of the City of London Michael Mainelli and had a media engagement with The Financial Times.

Mr Burt said his Britain and Europe trip was “incredibly successful and productive”.

He added: “Our Bermuda delegation was graciously received everywhere we went.

“Having this opportunity to meet with key officials in London, Brussels, Paris and Ireland cannot be understated.

“It is vital that Bermuda is present to tell our own story. Our performance and the key role we play in the global market are also a testament to the strength of these partnerships.

“Bermuda is viewed as a special jurisdiction that provides critical services to the global market.

“Whether addressing climate change, cyber-risks or financial services regulation, Bermuda and the EU share common challenges and goals.

“The Government of Bermuda will continue nurturing our relationship with the European Union and its member states which will allow our financial services industry to continue to thrive for the benefit of Bermudians, and we look forward to building upon the partnerships that we’ve fostered in recent days.”

Mr Burt was supported on the trip by Financial Secretary Chidozie Ofoego, Kenneth Joaquin, the Registrar of Companies, Kimberley Durrant, the Director of Bermuda’s London Office, and Aliyyah Ahad, the head of European Affairs and Policy in the Brussels Office.