Neale Richmond
Question:136. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the French President, Emanuel Macron. [60898/22]
View answerTuesday, 13 December 2022
Questions (136)
Written answers
I attended a working lunch with President Macron in Paris on Thursday, 24 November.
The meeting was an opportunity to mark the intensification of our bilateral relations in recent years, and to exchange views on current EU and international issues ahead of the December European Council.
Relations between Ireland and France have never been stronger, underpinned by the Joint Plan of Action we agreed when President Macron visited Dublin in 2021.
This includes the significant increase in maritime connections to Cork, Rosslare and Dublin, as well as progress on the Celtic Interconnector, which will link the Irish and French electricity grids when it comes online in 2026.
President Macron and I agreed that the EU will only rise to the many challenges it faces if we continue to stand together, to work with unity and purpose, and support each other through difficult times.
We discussed our shared, unequivocal support for the people of Ukraine; further steps in the EU’s coordinated response on energy prices and security of supply; and driving forward with the digital and green transformations while maintaining the EU’s global competitiveness.
We also discussed renewing and strengthening the EU’s partnerships with key allies, including the US and the UK, at a time when democracy is under pressure in many parts of the world.
I took the opportunity to express again my personal thanks to President Macron for his unswerving solidarity with Ireland throughout Brexit.