US President Joe Biden was given a warm welcome when he arrived at Dublin Airport after Air Force One landed just after 3pm.
He was greeted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other delegates, as well as US embassy staff and their children.
On entering Dublin Airport Fire Station, he asked the crowd how they were before introducing them to the Taoiseach who he described as a friend.
"This is a guy who has become, I don't want to hurt his reputation politically, but in addition to us being allies, we are also friends, this is a good man over here," Mr Biden said.
He also paid tribute to the airport fire fighters present saying: "There's a saying, God made men, then he made a few firefighters".
"Everyone I grew up with became a cop, a firefighter or a priest, I couldn't qualify for any of them so here I am."
He also thanked embassy staff and children for their service, acknowledging the difficulties such staff had in having to move around frequently.
Mr Biden asked the children if anyone had a question for him and one child asked him what his tips were for success. However, the US President did not appear to hear the question properly and began talking about Covid-19 before someone told him the question was "what is the key to success".
He replied: "The key to success is whenever you disagree with someone, it's okay to question their judgment but its never okay to question their motive."
US President Joe Biden was asked 'what is the key to success?' while speaking with the children of embassy staff at Dublin Airport | Follow more updates: https://t.co/CQJyxIPzTK pic.twitter.com/XaN4pGRaEF
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 12, 2023
Another child asked him how his dogs were doing.
"My dog in doing well, his name is Commander. What's your dogs name?" asked the President.
"Louis," the child replied.
The President then spoke with the fire officers at the airport, where he recounted a time his home was struck by lightening and how fire officers had saved his life and the life of his cat.
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