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Queen will visit Ireland some time in the future TAOISEACH
Bertie Ahern has revealed the Queen will visit Ireland during her reign
— but probably not for a few years.
Mr Ahern said there were loose ends to tie up before the visit could take
place — the first since Ireland gained independence from Britain.
He said: “As I have said many times before I am sure a visit by
the Queen will happen.
“I think it will take us some time to organise that but it is something
that is being discussed and obviously we are going to see everything right
before we do that.
“It is something that will happen in the next few years.”
Speculation has been mounting that the Queen would pay an official visit
to Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement and continuing progress on
the peace process.
The resumption of devolved Government in the North of Ireland led many
to believe a visit could take place some time this year.
But sources say although a visit is being discussed at the highest diplomatic
levels there are still some obstacles to be negotiated before it finally
takes place.
Chief among them is security and the worry the visit could raise sectarian
tensions at a time when relations between different communities have moved
into a more peaceful phase.
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