Australian Prime Minister to visit Ireland this month
He will also address the Dáil as part of his official programme on May 23 — an honour previously bestowed on his predecessor Paul Keating in 1993; as well as US Presidents John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton; South Africa’s President Nelson Mandela and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mr Howard, 66, has won four general elections and has been prime minister for 10 years. The leader of the Liberal Party is known for his strong socially-conservative views. He has been a strong supporter of the US-led occupation of Iraq, despite mass protest demonstrations in Australia.
The Department of the Taoiseach said yesterday that the visit would focus on “strengthening the historically close and increasingly dynamic relationship between Australia and Ireland and, in particular, economic relations”.
