merrion street

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have welcomed the announcement this evening of a State Visit by President Higgins to the United Kingdom as an historic development.

The Taoiseach said:

I warmly welcome the official confirmation that President Higgins will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom.

This is a further demonstration of the warm and positive relationship that now exists between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The State Visit in April, following on the very successful visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth in 2011, will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen this even further.  

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said:

The visit will be immensely important for the Irish in Britain. It marks a further milestone for the peace process in Northern Ireland. It reflects an economic, social and cultural relationship that has grown steadily closer. In short, it will bring British-Irish relations to a new level.