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Varadkar and Trump both looking forward to meeting in person next March in Washington

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US president Donald Trump say they are both looking forward to meeting in person next March in Washington.

In their first telephone call since Mr Varadkar was appointed taoiseach earlier this month the pair did not discuss a visit to Ireland by the US president.

Mr Varadkar's predecessor Enda Kenny invited Mr Trump to Ireland last March.

The planned trip, scheduled to take place during his presidency, sparked much criticism from opposition parties in Dublin.

Mr Trump did however extend to the taoiseach the traditional invite to the White House for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Both leaders "looked forward to meeting in person then", they said in the conversation, according to a spokesman for Mr Varadkar.

The pair also discussed migration, Brexit and the movement of goods and citizens across the border, climate change, free trade, Irish inward investment in the US and the undocumented Irish, or illegal Irish immigrants, in the US.

They also discussed the Northern Ireland peace process.

According to a note of the conversation, they agreed to continue strong co-operation between Ireland and the US on economic issues as well as shared cultural and family ties.

Mr Trump also congratulated Mr Varadkar on his recent election as leader of the minority ruling Fine Gael party and his appointment as taoiseach.

Mr Varadkar also held a telephone call with British prime minister Theresa May yesterday in which they discussed the ongoing efforts to restore the power-sharing in the north ahead of tomorrow's talk deadline.

They also discussed the supply and confidence agreement between the Conservatives and the DUP.