Taoiseach: Simon Harris on first official visit to Northern Ireland
Ireland's Premier will be at Stormont for a series of meetings
Last updated 3rd May 2024
Simon Harris was expected to make his first official visit to Northern Ireland today (Friday) as Taoiseach.
The Irish Premier will be at Stormont for a series of meetings with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and party leaders.
It is understood Mr Harris who took up his appointment on April 9, will be having discussions on the progress of Stormont since its restoration in February and the exploration of opportunities for all-island co-operation and collaboration.
He will be formally greeted at Parliament Buildings by the Speaker of the Assembly Edwin Poots, before he has bilateral meetings with Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and Colum Eastwood leader of the SDLP.
Mr Harris will also hold a working lunch with key business stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
He will later be hosted by The Duncairn arts centre where the focus will be on the achievements in reconciliation and community development work of the 174 Trust, through disability, arts, women and pre-school groups.
Its projects have been recipients of the Reconciliation Fund and Shared Island Creative Ireland programmes of the Government of Ireland.
The day will conclude with a visit to Queen's University Belfast where the Taoiseach will meet academics involved in ongoing all-island research, including on cancer care, sustainable energy and resilient food systems and others co-funded by programmes resourced through the Irish Government's Shared Island