Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to visit Ireland next week

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau will visit Ireland next week.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who has spoken in the past of his admiration for Mr Trudeau’s policies, told the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon that Mr Trudeau and his family would visit Ireland next Tuesday.

“We have a lot in common as countries,” Mr Varadkar said of Ireland and Canada.

During the Fine Gael leadership campaign, Mr Varadkar sought to cast himself in the socially and economically liberal mould of Mr Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Judicial appointments Bill hits Oireachtas roadblock

---

Down and out SDLP mowed down by ‘tribal juggernaut’

---

Minister says Nóirín O’Sullivan ‘may well have to resign’

---

Plan to move child from ‘loving and caring’ foster home queried

---

The Canadian premier created Canada’s first cabinet with an equal number of men and women in 2015.

Mr Trudeau, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party since 2013, hosted former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Montreal in May.

Some controversy surrounded the visit as questions about Mr Kenny’s leadership of Fine Gael followed him across the Atlantic.

When Daniel McConnell, the Irish Examiner's political editor, asked Mr Kenny when he would be stepping down, Mr Kenny responded: "I can't believe you travelled this distance to ask a question like that."

Mr Trudeau (45) is a son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau. He is married to Sophie Grégoire, a former television and radio presenter. They have three children.

He taught French and mathematics before entering politics.

In 2007, he sought a nomination in the Montréal riding of Papineau. He was elected in 2008, and then again in 2011 and 2015.

In October 2015, Mr Trudeau and his party secured a majority government.