Mike Pence: 'Brexit plan must protect Northern Ireland peace deal'

US Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence touched down at Shannon Airport on Monday

Mike Pence said the United States supports a Brexit plan that "keeps the strong foundation forged by the Good Friday Agreement" as he arrived in Ireland on Monday.

The US vice president is making a two-day visit to the Republic of Ireland.

The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998 and ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland in which thousands of people died.

Both the British and Irish governments have pledged to uphold it after Brexit.

Speaking to reporters at Shannon Airport, Mr Pence said: "We will continue to work closely with our partners in Ireland and the United Kingdom to support a Brexit plan that encourages stability and also one that keeps the strong foundation forged by the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Pence is travelling with his wife Karen, his sister and his mother.

On Tuesday he will meet Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins in Dublin.

Mr and Mrs Pence, will stay in Doonbeg, County Clare, where US President Donald Trump owns a luxury golf resort.

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On Monday evening, he was greeted by Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and the mayor of Clare.

Mr Pence and Mr Coveney met shortly after the vice president arrived

It is Mr Pence's first visit to Ireland as vice president, but not his first visit to the country.

He has family roots in Ireland - his grandfather Michael Cawley emigrated from County Sligo to Chicago in the early 1920s and his grandmother Mary Maloney's family had historic links with Doonbeg.

While in Doonbeg, he is due to have a private dinner at a restaurant owned by a distant cousin.

Last month, Mr Pence spoke of how he was looking forward to celebrating his Irish roots as the country is "very near to his family's heart".

Evangelical beliefs

The White House said that during his visit, Mr Pence would "voice the US commitment to maintaining peace, prosperity, and stability in Ireland by upholding the Good Friday Agreement".

He is also expected to discuss trade, investment and strengthening the economic relationship between the US and Ireland.

The vice president's trip comes three months after Mr Trump visited Ireland for the first time as president.

His visit was met with protests in Dublin and in Shannon.

Mr Pence is also not without controversy - he has previously come under fire by gay rights activists for his Christian evangelical beliefs which include opposition to gay marriage.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Dr Matt Barrett previously met the vice president in Washington DC in March, as part of the Irish prime minister's annual St Patrick's Day tour.

During his stay Mr Varadkar highlighted various forms of intolerance, in a speech hosted by Mr Pence.

The vice-president's visit was originally due to take place on Friday but was brought forward after it was announced that he would visit Poland over the weekend to attend World War Two commemorations in place of US President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump has remained in the US to monitor Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Pence is due to visit the UK later in the week for a series of engagements.