Ursula Von der Leyen has heaped praise on the Irish people for their “outstanding” kindness and hospitality in accepting tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
The EU Commission President said she wanted to thank the many families for “opening their hearts and their homes.”
And Ms Von der Leyen quoted The Saw Doctors during her keynote speech in Leinster House.
The President spoke first outside Government Buildings where she was greeted on her arrival in Dublin for an official State visit by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
President Von der Leyen was here to formally mark Ireland joining the EU, or EC (European Communities) as it was known then, 50 years ago.
In the afternoon, the President addressed a joint session of the House of the Oireachtas.
She surprised many of the TDs, Senators and distinguished guests when she quoted Galway band The Saw Doctors in her formal speech.
The President used a quote from the famous football song from the westerners, To Win Just Once.
She said: “I can promise you that whenever the European Union sits down with our British friends, we will do so with an honest heart and an open mind, to quote the great Irish band, The Saw Doctors.”
And the song goes: “To never have considered losing, As if to win is by your choosing, Bare your soul for all to find, An honest heart and an open mind, To Win just once, That would be enough.”
Ms Von der Leyen and Mr Martin both addressed the media outside Government Buildings with the President also predicting that the Government’s commitment to renewable energy could soon see us become a “clean energy superpower.”
Ms Von der Leyen was in Ireland on an official two day visit, with two highlights of her trip included a historic address to a joint session of the Dáil and Seanad in Leinster House and a call to President Michale D Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain.
In her remarks on the steps of Government Buildings, she said: “We are in difficult times because Russia unleashed an atrocious war against Ukraine.
“And first and foremost I want to thank the Irish people for opening their hearts and their homes to Ukrainian refugees.
“This is outstanding.”
Ms Von der Leyen added about the move away from fossil fuels to renewables: “We are working very closely together first of all to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels, with success.
“We have saved a lot of energy, we have filled our storages, so we are safe for the winter.
“But of course there needs to be an answer for the mid and long term.
“And here I want to underline how impressive the Irish investment in renewable energy is.
“You are on the best way (sic) to becoming a clean energy superpower in the European Union.”
The Taoiseach thanked President Von der Leyen after she addressed the Dáil and Seanad joint sitting.
He said: “Over the last 50 years sharing our sovereignty with our European partners has helped to make us all safer, stronger and more prosperous.
“Close reciprocal cooperation with our European partners has been central to our transformation – helping us to emerge as a modern, open economy and society.”
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