Ireland and France links never been stronger, says Martin after Macron visit

Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne met Emmanuel Macron at Áras an Úchtaráin

Links between Ireland and France "have never been stronger", Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin has said after welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron to Dublin.

Mr Macron was in the capital to speak to political leaders about EU affairs.

He began his day in Dublin by meeting Irish President Michael D Higgins.

He then had lunch with Mr Martin and afterwards said Ireland would always have the support of the EU when it comes to Brexit negotiations.

They discussed issues such as the crisis in Afghanistan, climate change and the EU's response to the coronavirus pandemic in what the taoiseach described as a "very warm and useful" meeting.

'Deep links between us'

"France and Ireland are the oldest and best of friends," said Mr Martin.

"The links between us are deep and they have never been stronger.

"I am proud, Mr President, to have this opportunity to celebrate them with you today."

Mr Macron thanked the taoiseach for the "warm welcome."

Emmanuel Macron (left) and Micheál Martin discussed EU affairs and the Afghanistan crisis over lunch in Dublin

It is believed they discussed the Northern Ireland Protocol, an aspect of the Brexit deal that the UK government is seeking to have renegotiated.

Mr Macron has previously ruled that out and said the UK government must respect what it has already negotiated and that the European single market must be protected.

The Irish government believes that flexibilities can be found within the protocol to accommodate those who have expressed concerns about how it is working.

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The protocol is the part of the Brexit deal that puts a trade border in the Irish Sea.

It keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU single market for goods and means EU customs rules are enforced at its ports but it is strongly opposed by unionists, who see it as separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

After the meeting, the two leaders went for a walk in Dublin, taking in Sweny's pharmacy, one of the locations from the James Joyce novel Ulysses.

'Faithful friend for the future'

Earlier in the day, Mr Macron met Mr Higgins and they were joined by four intellectuals chosen by the Irish president to discuss the island's history.

During his visit to Áras an Uachtaráin, the Irish president's residence, Mr Macron wrote in the guestbook that Ireland "occupies a precious place in the heart of the European dream".

Emmanuel Macron rang the peace bell, which was unveiled on the 10-year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

"Your invitation on this day to meet the minds which shape Ireland is a great honour and a source of inspiration," he added.

Mr Macron's note explained that France would remain a "faithful friend for the future".

Before departing, he rang the peace bell at the Phoenix Park residence, which had been unveiled in 2008 to mark a decade since the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement.

A statement from the Irish president's office said the meeting "builds on the very close and positive bilateral relationships between the two countries".

It continued: "President Higgins thanked President Macron for his continuing support for Ireland, our shared ideals in the European Union and France's assistance in relation to our citizens in Afghanistan."