Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender payed a state visit to Ireland from 27 to 29 October 2021.

In the capital Dublin, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender were welcomed with military honours by President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins at the President’s official residence. The Federal President also held talks with the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, the speaker of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of parliament) and the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

In addition, the Federal President visited cultural, scientific and business institutions to learn more about the many partnerships between the two countries and about areas for future cooperation. At a start-up hub in the capital’s Docklands area, he and Ms Büdenbender gained insight into Ireland’s innovative start-up scene.

The state visit focused in part on the future of democracy and on Europe’s contribution to issues of global justice. The itinerary thus included, for example, a meeting with representatives of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly, which is made up of randomly selected members of the public and consults on important national issues such as climate change mitigation and abortion.

From Dublin, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender travelled to the south-west of the country. There they visited the University of Limerick to meet with Irish students and discuss young people’s views on how the European Union should develop.

President Steinmeier visited Ireland at the invitation of Irish President Michael D. Higgins, who paid a state visit to Germany in July 2019.

Overview of the programme:

Wednesday, 27 October 2021

• Arrival in Dublin

• Official residence of the President of Ireland
  Welcome with military honours by Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, and Sabina Higgins

  Talks with the President of Ireland

• Garden
  The Federal President rings the peace bell.
  Planting of an Irish oak
• Garden of Remembrance
  Wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to Irish freedom fighters
• Restaurant BANG
  Lunch with representatives of the Citizens’ Assembly
• Department of the Taoiseach
  Talks with Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland (Prime Minister)
• Leinster House
  Talks with Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann (Speaker of the Lower House)
• Trinity College
  Viewing of the Book of Kells and tour of The Long Hall (library)
• Official residence of the President
  State banquet in honour of the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender, hosted by the President of Ireland and Sabina Higgins

Thursday, 28 October 2021

• Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
  Talks with members of Operation Shamrock

  Talks with figures involved in the Northern Ireland peace process on the impact of Brexit

  Visit of the German military cemetery

• Dublin
  Walk with Alison Gilliland, Mayor of Dublin, through the Docklands quarter to the Dogpatch Lab startup hub
• Dogpatch Lab startup hub
  Presentation of selected startup initiatives and talks with founders and CEOs of several startups
• National Gallery
  Concert in honour of the President of Ireland and Sabina Higgins, hosted by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender

Friday, 29 October 2021

• Spiddal
  Visit of the film location of the TG4 series Ros na Rún
• University of Limerick, library
  Presentation of selected pieces from the library collection
• University of Limerick, library reading room
  Talks with students on the future of Europe and Europe’s contribution to social justice in the world

• University of Limerick, sports centre

  Introduction to the sport of hurling

• Flight to Berlin