US Vice President arrives in Ireland for first official visit

By PA reporter

Mike Pence has arrived at the Irish President's residence as part of his first official visit to the country as US vice president.

Mr Pence was accompanied by his wife Karen Pence, his mother Nancy Pence-Fritsch and his sister Ann Poynter to the Aras an Uachtarain.

He was greeted by Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina.

The family travelled to Dublin from Shannon Airport on Air Force Two after spending their first night in Doonbeg, Co Clare.

Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina escorted Mr Pence and his wife Karen to the state dining room.

The US vice president greeted the press before signing the guest book.

He wrote: "In the memory of a great Irishman, Richard Michael Cawley (Mr Pence's maternal grandfather) and on behalf of the United States of America - we are delighted to be back in Ireland."

They are holding a meeting where they are expected to discuss multilateral co-operation to address climate action, Brexit and its impact on Ireland as well as human rights and equality issues.

Other topics they are expected to address include Northern Ireland and modern challenges of migration.

(US Vice President Mike Pence meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House in Dublin, during his official visit to Ireland.)

Mr Pence and his wife Karen were greeted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matthew Barrett at the front door to Farmleigh, the Irish state guest house in Phoenix Park in Dublin, and exchanged pleasantries.

Mr Pence is a conservative who opposed gay marriage during his time in Congress.

In 2015, as Indiana governor, he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allowed businesses to act according to their religious beliefs.

It followed the introduction of same-sex marriage in the state in 2014.

Mr Varadkar made history when he became the first openly gay Irish head of state in 2017.

The US vice-president signed a visitor book in the Farmleigh entrance hall before attending a lunch.

Farmleigh is a historic house holding important collections, an art gallery and a working farm.

In a statement, a spokesman for President Higgins said: "The meeting reflected on the deep bonds and enduring relations of friendship, culture and trade between Ireland and the United States, and emphasised the need for continued multilateral co-operation to effectively address global and regional challenges.

"President Higgins acknowledged long-standing US support for the peace process in Northern Ireland and highlighted the importance of human rights and equality legislation in resolving the conflict and promoting social change on the island of Ireland.

"The President spoke of the two nations' shared concerns about the challenges posed by Brexit and stressed the important role of multilateral co-operation in addressing complex global issues such as conflict, poverty, food insecurity and climate change.

"The two leaders also discussed issues of Irish, European and current global relevance, including recent developments in the European Union.

"President Higgins and the vice president spoke of vice president Pence's family ties with Ireland and the important role Irish migrants have played, and continue to play, in US society.

"The President emphasised the importance of responding adequately and compassionately to the needs of migrants and refugees, within the framework of international migration law."

Before lunch, the Taoiseach showed the Pences archival documents related to the Pence family in Ireland.

Among them was the National Army Recruitment Register, which contains the signature of the VP's grandfather.

The Taoiseach showed the VP and presented him with a framed copy of the page containing his grandfather's signature.