French President Emmanuel Macron is set to make a 'short working visit' to Ireland next week.
Mr Macron will arrive in Dublin on the morning of Thursday, August 26th before being welcomed by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.
He will then travel to Government Buildings for a working lunch with the Taoiseach.
Irish-French relations
The meeting between Micheál Martin and Mr Macron will focus on current EU and international issues, Covid-19 and Irish-French relations.
“President Macron will be accompanied by Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, and Mr. Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs," according to a Government statement.
Their itinerary will include bilateral meetings with their Irish counterparts, Minister for Foreign Affiars Simon Coveney, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister of State Thomas Byrne.
Vaccination rates jumped in France after Mr Macron unveiled his health pass plans last month. Two thirds of all French people have now received one dose and 55 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Health pass
People now have to show a health pass to eat in a restaurant, access non-emergency treatment in a hospital or travel on an intercity train. They are already needed to access swimming pools, museums and nightclubs.
Health employees have until September 15th to get their vaccinations or face suspension.
Protesters have marched through French cities for the last few weekends in a show of defiance against Mr Macron's health pass rules.
