President hopes visits between countries will become regular
Taoiseach raises prospect of royal visit to Ireland for Easter Rising centenary
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina , who leave for a state visit to Britain today.
President Michael D Higgins has said on the eve of the first state visit to Britain that he hopes such visits would become “frequent and regular” in respect of both states. Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina will be accompanied by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore when they fly to London today. Taoiseach Enda Kenny will join them there tomorrow after the weekly meeting of the Cabinet.
The President said yesterday that the busy itinerary pointed to “the enthusiasm and generosity of our hosts and an expression of the importance of the visit”. He also said at the weekend he had been “very moved” by the recent Buckingham Palace reception for the Irish in Britain. “This is really the opening of a whole new chapter in our relationship,” he said.