Here come the Trudeaus!
Will make short visit next week
CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming to Ireland on a brief official visit next week.
Mr Trudeau, his wife Sophie and three children will arrive here on their way to a family holiday, it is understood.
The 45-year-old, who is leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, received then-taoiseach Enda Kenny in Montreal last month.
That encounter happened on May 4 – and Mr Trudeau provoked comment worldwide by wearing Star Wars-themed socks to mark the date on the calendar associated with the movie’s famous greeting, ‘May the force be with you.’
Possessed of considerable political stardust, it’s possible Mr Trudeau will draw crowds when he calls on both the President, in the Phoenix Park, and the new Taoiseach at Government Buildings.
The Trudeau family will arrive on Monday night and he will have a day of engagements on Tuesday, likely to include stopping off at a GAA Cúl Camp so that Justin and his children can try their hand with a hurley.
There may be a reception for the Canadian community in Ireland, and the Trudeaus will leave on Wednesday.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday: ‘I look forward very much to [Prime Minister Trudeau’s] visit and to renewing the long-standing bonds of friendship that exist between Canada and Ireland.’
Mr Varadkar will be hoping that Mr Trudeau doesn’t scrutinise Ireland’s commitments to gender equality in the political realm. Whereas the Taoiseach came under fire for appointing a male-dominated Cabinet, Mr Trudeau achieved an equal split in his Cabinet from the off.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach played up their similarities, saying both men share a commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and to open trade. He said: ‘The coming into force of the EU/Canada Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement opens new investment opportunities for Irish and Canadian enterprises, which the Taoiseach looks forward to exploring.’
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