Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together.

I met with the Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, in Government Buildings on Monday, 13 November. We discussed the close and strengthening ties between our two countries, as well as current EU and international issues. France is Ireland’s nearest neighbour in the European Union, and we share a deep commitment to the European project as the bedrock of peace, prosperity and well-being on our Continent. We acknowledged the significant progress being made under our joint plan of action for bilateral co-operation, which was agreed when President Macron visited Dublin in 2021.

Highlights include new education and research partnerships between Irish and French institutions and significantly expanded transport links. Work is under way on integrated sail-rail ticketing between Ireland and France, which we hope to have in place for the Paris Olympic Games next year. Prime Minister Borne and I welcomed the joint declaration of intent on energy transition co-operation that was signed by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his French counterpart, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, during the visit. Construction of the Celtic interconnector between France and Ireland has now commenced. I hope we will see a second interconnector to France in the coming years because we will need it.

In our discussion of shared EU challenges, Prime Minister Borne and I agreed that Europe needs to improve its competitiveness and resilience, and accelerate the green and digital transitions, while responding to a very uncertain world. We also discussed the mid-term review of the EU budget, and the forthcoming discussion at the December European Council on EU enlargement. We reiterated our shared and unwavering support to Ukraine and its people, and our continued commitment to providing it with the financial and other supports it needs. We also discussed the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, the urgent need for a ceasefire and the importance of EU partners working together to bring about a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, based on a two-state solution.

France and Ireland will continue to work closely on these and other issues, both within the EU and at the UN. Following our meeting at Government Buildings, I accompanied Prime Minister Borne to Iveagh House where we both spoke at a conference to mark the 225th anniversary of the Year of the French, when forces of the French Republic sailed from La Rochelle to Killala help the Irish rebellion in 1798.

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