Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

President Hollande’s visit to Dublin on 21 July had initially been planned as a full State visit, but it was curtailed following the devastating attack in Nice on Bastille Day in which 84 people were brutally murdered. In the circumstances, his visit was limited to three elements: our meeting at Government Buildings, his meeting with President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin and interaction with some members of the French community in Ireland at Dublin Castle.

At our meeting,I was accompanied by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, the EU digital single market and data protection. President Hollande was accompanied by Mr. Harlem Désir, the French Minister for European affairs. In opening the meeting I reiterated the sympathy and solidarity of the Irish people with the people of France in the wake of the horrendous attack in Nice and the other recent terrorist attacks in France. President Hollande briefed the meeting on the security situation and his government’s response. We agreed on the urgent need to accelerate ongoing work on a range of EU counter-terrorism and security actions, including promoting close and effective co-operation between police and security services. The surest way to assert and protect Europe’s fundamental values is to refuse to bow to terrorism and its assault on these values.

We discussed the EU-UK relationship, the renewal of the European Union, economic issues, external relations and counter-terrorism measures. In dealing with the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom we agreed that maintaining the closest possible partnership was key, based on a balance of rights and obligations, including in respect of the four freedoms. Our two countries are the United Kingdom’s nearest neighbours and each has unique concerns to be addressed in future negotiations. President Hollande acknowledged Ireland’s special position in the maintenance of the Good Friday Agreement and as a country with a land border with the United Kingdom. We noted the economic progress made nationally and in the euro area generally but also the risks ahead, including as a result of the outcome of the UK referendum. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to the European Union as the essential framework for peace, prosperity and security in Europe.

The confidence of citizens in the European project needs to be renewed. This can best be achieved through an improved functioning of the European Union and the faster and better delivery of practical results in areas of priority which should be the focus of European action. They include internal and external security, growth and investment in order to create jobs, fighting unemployment and strengthening our economies. It is vital that the difficult challenges facing young Europeans are addressed through ambitious programmes.

On global issues, President Hollande outlined progress made on the French initiative aimed at injecting new momentum into the Middle East peace process, an initiative in which Ireland has been participating in a situation which has now changed seriously for the worse. We also spoke about the security situation in the Sahel.President Hollande welcomed Ireland’s increase in its contribution to the EU training mission in Mali.

I also took a moment to congratulate President Hollande on the huge success of Euro 2016 and thank the mayor of Paris for acknowledging the Irish supporters who were such a feature of the competition and the celebrations.

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