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CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER Justin Trudeau pays a visit to Ireland this week.
His visit comes just two months after a trip to Canada by then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny which was, as you may recall, slightly overshadowed by questions about Kenny’s leadership, and a pair of Star Wars socks.
Trudeau is set to arrive this evening, and a number of high-profile events are being scheduled around Dublin to mark his visit before he departs for the G20 summit in Germany on Wednesday.
He’s expected to visit Áras An Uachtaráin at some stage tomorrow.
And while Canadian leaders can always be assured of a warm welcome here (the two countries, of course, share strong cultural and business ties) the timing of Trudeau’s visit will be particularly welcomed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his advisors.
Varadkar has sought to align himself with the likes of Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron, and said during the Fine Gael leadership campaign that he liked the “style and substance” of both men.
As populist movements – either on the right, or the left – continue to gain traction in the US, the UK and further afield, Varadkar has sought to establish a brand as both a safe pair of hands, and a straight-talking, strong leader.
At 38, he’s also of the same generation as Trudeau (45) and Macron (39), who he met while the French politician was still campaigning for the presidency, back at the start of May.
Who is Justin Trudeau?
Trudeau is the son of Pierre Trudeau, who was one of the country’s best-known leaders and led Canada in the 1970s and early 80s.
Many profiles published at the time he took office in 2015 noted that he was pretty much born to be premier, as a result of his dynastic links.
And while Canadian politicians – even prime ministers – tend to be an unassuming bunch, Trudeau has become something of a global political celebrity in the two years since he took office.
His looks, charm, knife-flipping skills (see below) and fondness for themed socks have garnered interest from corners of the internet not normally concerned with international diplomacy.
On a more serious note – his rhetoric on immigration and general policy of inclusivity have established him as a liberal counterpoint to Donald Trump, since the US President took office in January.
“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith,” Trudeau tweeted, in the wake of Trump’s announcement of his planned travel ban, back in January. ”Diversity is our strength.”
He also posted a photograph of himself with a child, apparently a Syrian refugee, with the hashtag #welcometocanada, which has since been retweeted almost 100,000 times.
Indeed, Trudeau occasionally manages to combine the ephemeral and statesmanlike qualities of his leadership – harnessing the power of the internet to send a serious message.
There was his February handshake with Trump, for instance: the Canadian leader managed to exert a measure of calm and control over the ritual, combating the US President’s dominant approach to handshakes, and the encounter generated global headlines.
More recently, he wore a pair of multi-coloured Eid-themed socks to a Gay Pride event in Toronto.
Neither left nor right
Like Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron in France, Leo Varadkar has marketed himself as a new kind of leader, not shackled to the left-right divisions of the last century.
“They’re actually pushing back against some of the forces that want to close the world down again,” Varadkar told the Irish Times, as he launched his bid to be Taoiseach earlier this summer.
He added that the Canadian and French leaders were “standing up for free trade, standing up for Europe, standing up for multilateralism, saying that, on balance, if it’s managed, migration is a good thing.
Instead of pandering to populist or extremist views on the right or left, they’ve done the opposite.
The government I lead will be one of the new European centre as we seek to build a republic of opportunity.
And while Varadkar and Trudeau will have plenty of opportunity to talk up their common political ground in the coming 48 hours or so – it’s worth noting that away from the glowing international headlines it hasn’t all been plain sailing at home for the Canadian premier.
According to a recent poll, his approval ratings have taken a dent in the last year or so.
Business Insider reports that Trudeau has faced criticism for supporting oil pipeline expansion, going ahead with a controversial plan to supply military vehicles to Saudi Arabia, failing to fulfill promises of electoral reform, and taking a luxurious vacation on a billionaire’s private island.
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One would hope that this would see the excision of any reference to “blasphemy” from our Statutes, no matter how much Mr. Ahearne was in love with it. It is a provision just awaiting some extremist to avail of.
That’ll unfortunately require a referendum as Dev put that stupid crime in the constitution and then never defined what it was.
The blasphemy law was put in place by Noel Ahearne during the last administration
Hopefully overhauling the equalities act to remove the religious public bodies right to fire someone for their religion (or lack thereof) and sexuality. If ever there was a backward law its one that technically allows a religious run hospital or school to fire someone for being gay or an atheist. Absurd.
Dermot not Noël I think. And the dope has since admitted it was a mistake.
Niall…. That’s BLASPHEMOUS!
Was it? Jesus Christ!
Its hard to beat the brand new law in Sweden that makes it legal to w**k in public.
Lol, you said, “hard to beat”.
It’s the Defamation Act, not a ‘blasphemy law’. Blasphemy is a small part of it and the language is so watered down nobody will ever be convicted under it (I hope).
Where did anyone call it a “blasphemy law”? Try reading the posts. Further the wording as it stands does admit of prosecution, whether or not your learned self thinks it would be successful or not.
Dermot Lane, above, called it ‘the blasphemy law’.
Any chance they could knock that law preventing TD’s being stopped and breathalysed because they are on their way to the Dail?
In the constitution as well. Broadly, TDs and senators can’t be impeded by police if they’re on the way to the Oireachtas.
Kerry, NONE WHATSOEVER,
How about getting rid of the law banning the sale of alcohol on good Friday and Christmas Day?
Because it would lead to violent outrages and general humiliation. #coppers
The penalty for suicide up until 1964 was death by hanging.i wonder could you appeal for leniency
So they rehang a poor suicide victim … That’s overdoing it a bit don’t you think
Is it still legal to take a dump but not a piss on a public street?
I think you’re allowed to do your wees as long as it’s against the wheel of your carriage.
It is illegal to take a piss on a public street. My “friend” got done for it.
@Denise. I’m trying desperately to imagine the anatomical position that would render that possible
@john. My “friend” got away with the former
I think it’s still legal for pregnant women but I stand open to correction on that.
Beat me too it…
It’s legal to pee in the street if you are a pregnant woman. Can anyone confirm that it is legal to ask for a police mans hat if you are caught short to crap in. I can’t remember where I heard it but it would be interesting to try
Does this mean that ye can marry yer horse without being hung drawn and quartered?
Well I married mine.
(hi honey)
Has the ‘Kings Birthday’ been removed as a day off for public servants?
Fair play to the angry mob.
“A general fast and humiliation”: Troika anyone?
Fast and humiliation…? The chap really was off his rocker.
Say theres a few Clare lads getting fierce excited the ‘obscure’ references to copulating with siblings will be removed from the books.
Clare folk have to have a hobby.
Once I can continue to play games of chance in the town market square I dont mind what they do
Isn’t fast & humiliation just another way of saying AUSTERITY!
Not much has changed!
There must be something they are tring to take on the sly. Between that and potential loss of sheanad and Supreme Court under their control we might not know it yet but we are doomed slaves and fools for letting the pigs run the farm!!
I think you can relax: I don’t think the Supreme Court is being abolished any time soon.
How about laws for victimless ‘crimes’
Nice one!! The White Boys get away with it! It was worth the wait…
I wonder what theGuinness Estate Act1883 , is?
Now I am as well.
We did this in Colorado about 30 years ago and there was an uproar from the clergy about removing adultery from our criminal laws. The Chief Justice said at the hearing, “I know a married man who tried adultery, and he said he couldn’t tell the difference.” It cracked up the proceedings. They left it on the books, but they removed the penalty associated with it, making it non-criminal.
Blasphemy is what last year’s leaf screams at this year’s bud. All laws associated with it are repugnant to human development. Let the clergy tear their sullied gowns over it while we laugh at their all powerful gods needing the help of the legislature, so they won’t be toppled over by reason and true compassion.
I wonder what the Guinness Estate Act 1883 was.
have your say