President Metsola is be in Ireland. At the Parliament House, she meets with the Speaker/Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó FEARGHAÍL, address a joint sitting of the upper and lower houses of parliament. President Mersola meets with Jerry BUTTIMER, Speaker/ Seanad Éireann and addresses the Oireachtas during a joint session.

statement

meeting

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Ireland (T)

Dublin

Ireland

president's agenda

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Ireland (Dublin): meeting with Jerry BUTTIMER, Speaker/ Seanad Éireann and extracts from the address to the Oireachtas

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and meeting with Jerry BUTTIMER, Speaker/ Seanad &Eacute;ireann; signature of the Golden book

Going to the Chamber of the Parliament for the Address

SOUNDBITE (English), Speaker/Ceann Comhairle Se&#225;n &#211; FEARGHA&#205;L, We welcome you as the President, as the President of the ninth European Parliament, one of the key institutions of our European democratic structure. We salute you also as the third woman to lead that venerable institution following the exemplary leadership roles of Simone Veil and Nicole Fontaine. Our European Union was founded on the values of peace and democracy. These values have been sorely tested since its foundation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Speaker/Ceann Comhairle Se&#225;n &#211; FEARGHA&#205;L, <p>President Metsola, Ireland has been at the centre of the Union since we signed the Treaty of Accession to join the European Economic Community in 1972 and joined the community on the 1st of January 1973. You speak to us today as we are celebrating 50 years in the union. There is no strength without unity. We are truly stronger together. President Metzler, I invite you now to address these houses. </p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, Thank you for having me here today. It is an honour to be in Dublin's Fair City, representing the European Parliament. 50 years after Ireland joined what was then still the European Economic Community. We have come a long way together in five decades from joining the Single market to joining the Euro, from helping to brought her  a peace, to secure a Northern Ireland protocol.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, Democracy cannot be taken for granted. Europe cannot be taken for granted in the face of destruction, devastation and death. The Irish people continue to show solidarity in helping over 70,000 displaced Ukrainians. Irish people have a long history of showing empathy, of caring, of standing up, and for that example to the world, I thank you. "Maith agat"

Meeting with members of the Irish Women&rsquo;s Parliamentary Caucus and with second-level students from Maryfield College, Dublin