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Jean-Claude Juncker has met President Michael D Higgins on the second day of his visit to Ireland.<\/p>\nJean-Claude Juncker has met President Michael D Higgins on the second day of his visit to Ireland.<\/p>\n
The President of the European Commission complimented the \u201cbeautiful\u201d home of the Irish president in Phoenix Park in Dublin.<\/p>\n
He was greeted at the entrance of Aras an Uachtarain by secretary general Art O\u2019Leary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d Mr Juncker told Mr Higgins\u2019 aides, gesturing around the state reception room with its views across the park.<\/p>\n
Mr Juncker then met Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina.<\/p>\n
There was a warm greeting between the two men.<\/p>\n
Mr Juncker said: \u201cMr President, thank you for receiving me\u201d, as he strode across the room to greet him, extending his hand which Mr Higgins took.<\/p>\n
Mr Juncker then took Mrs Higgins hand and planted a kiss on it, before giving her a kiss on the cheek.<\/p>\n
Mr Higgins invited Mr Juncker to sign the visitors book.<\/p>\n
The trio posed for photographs for waiting media, as Mr Juncker quipped to Mr Higgins: \u201cPresent us to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair held a short meeting along with their delegations, including Clara Martinez-Alberola, head of Mr Juncker\u2019s cabinet, Gerard Kiely, head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, legal adviser Michael Shotter and financial adviser Paulina Dejmek-Hack.<\/p>\n
Mr Juncker departed Aras an Uachtarain at around 10.10am local time for his next visit, which was to Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games in Ireland.<\/p>\n