News Releases

DUBLIN, IRELAND--(Marketwire - Oct. 17, 2011) - BMO welcomed Canada's Minister of Finance, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, to its Dublin office today during the Minister's visit to Ireland.

"Increased trade and investment between Canada and Ireland benefits both countries," said Minister Flaherty.

"Canada's financial sector is widely recognized as one of the safest in the world. It is well regulated, well supervised, and well capitalized. In times of heightened global risk, Canada and its financial sector are well positioned for international leadership.

"The significant economic challenges our world faces requires political will, decisiveness, and clarity of purpose. Canada and Ireland both know that the rewards of such decisive action are significant.

"I thank BMO for hosting me today in Dublin."

"We welcome Minister Flaherty's ongoing efforts to strengthen commercial ties between Ireland and Canada. Canada has many advantages, including prudent fiscal policy, low inflation, interest, unemployment, and corporate tax rates rates. Forbes Magazine just named Canada the best country in the world for business, and Canada's banking system has been ranked the soundest in the world by the World Economic Forum for the last four years," said Neil Ward, General Manager, Bank of Montreal Ireland plc. "BMO has the capabilities to support trade and investment between Ireland and North America, with extensive expertise in trade finance, investment and corporate banking and trading products."

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $477 billion as at July 31, 2011, and more than 47,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions. BMO Capital Markets has 29 offices around the world, including 12 outside North America. Its European offices are located in Dublin, London, Paris, and Zurich.