Ireland's Minister of State responsible for Health visited Australia in March 1997. Ireland's Minister for the Arts visited Australia in March 1999. During the course of his visit, he inaugurated Ireland House in Sydney, which incorporates a consulate as well as a trade office. University College Cork also has a popular Australian History course. An agreement for the exchange of doctoral students between Trinity College Dublin and the Victoria University of Technology was established in 1996.
Tourism flows in both directions are strong.
Australia has had a working holidaymaker arrangement with Ireland for 25 years. The President and Senate have limited functions and powers. The Dil, which has 166 seats, is the primary legislative body, and it selects the government. It is directly elected at least once every five years by a system of proportional representation. The Senate, which has 60 members, is elected through a system of electoral colleges and its periods of office correspond with those of the Dil.