French President and Irish PM hold talks in Paris
Ireland – Meeting between M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, and Mr Simon Harris, Prime Minister of Ireland – Press release issued by the Presidency of the Republic
Paris, 27 August 2024
President Macron had a meeting with Simon Harris, Prime Minister of Ireland, at the Elysée Palace on Tuesday 27 August.
On the eve of the Paralympic Games, the French President began by thanking Simon Harris for Ireland’s support in making the Olympic and Paralympic Games safe and for his participation in the Sport for Sustainable Development Summit, held in Paris on 25 July.
During the meeting, the Head of State and the Taoiseach also spoke about international issues, particularly the situation in the Middle East. They reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire, which is essential for the protection of civilians in Gaza, the release of all the hostages, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population, and de-escalation in the region. The two leaders also reaffirmed their desire to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, to defeat the Russian war of aggression and maintain the security of the European continent.
President Macron and the Irish Prime Minister discussed European issues and the outlook for the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom. They reiterated their desire to deepen the bilateral relationship between France and Ireland. Finally, they talked about the prospects and priorities Ireland is considering with a view to the Irish presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2026./.