Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he does not believe Donald Trump’s election as US president will affect Ireland’s relationship with America.

The Taoiseach had previously criticised Mr Trump for using “racist and dangerous” comments during his campaign.

However, Mr Kenny today offered Mr Trump "sincere congratulations" following his election victory and said he is confident the relationship between Ireland and the US will "continue to prosper".

In a statement, Mr Kenny also said: "We think today of Hillary Clinton, a friend to Ireland who fought such a tough campaign."

The Taoiseach also said “democracy always brings its own outcomes”.

Mr Kenny was pressed in the Dáil on Wednesday on his previous criticisms of Mr Trump’s comments with the Taoiseach saying Mr Trump had made comments in the “heat of battle” but had promised in his acceptance speech to heal the wounds of a divisive campaign.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I am pleased to offer our sincere congratulations to Donald J Trump on his election as the 45th president of the United States, " the statement said.

“Ireland and the United States have enjoyed a very close and warm relationship for many generations and I am confident that under his leadership our bilateral relations will continue to prosper.

“Also, we think today of Hillary Clinton, a friend to Ireland who fought such a tough campaign.

“We are all acutely conscious of the particular responsibility of the United States for leadership and engagement across the globe in our endeavours to address shared challenges. I look forward to working with the new administration in the time ahead in the cause of international peace and security.”

Mr Kenny also said the government will continue to work towards immigration reform in the US.

“I also intend to work closely with the new administration and newly elected United States Congress to pursue comprehensive immigration reform, an issue that is so important to tens of thousands of Irish people who are making a major contribution to America,” the Taoiseach said.

"I also want to congratulate the president-elect's running mate, Mike Pence, on his election as vice-president.

“The vice president-elect is a proud Irish American who spent many summers in Ireland as a child.

"The Government looks forward to working closely with our new colleagues in the White House. In the meantime, the Government will continue to engage actively and constructively with the administration of President Obama, until he completes his term on January 20th."

‘Best wishes to the American people’

President Michael D Higgins said he would convey his "best wishes to the American people" on the election of Donald Trump on as US president, and outlined a wait-and-see stance on how Trump's policies emerged in coming weeks.

“I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on statements made during what was a particularly not-very-policy-oriented campaign in some respects but of course as President of Ireland I would be conveying the best wishes to the American people for the new president and the period of presidency,” Mr Higgins said.

The President was speaking at a part-Irish funded site for clearing landmines and unexploded munitions from the Vietnam War in Quang Tri province.

The president has previously strongly criticised Mr Trump for inciting racism and for playing on fear about migration.

“So I think all of us will be interested in hearing the first outlines of the policies for the next few years,” said President Higgins.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, who is also in Vietnam on the state visit, expressed his best wishes on behalf of the government.

“I look forward to working with him. I believe it’s important that the very special relationship between Ireland and America continue. I look forward to an early visit by president Trump to Ireland,” he said.

During the campaign, Mr Flanagan warned his colleagues in the Fine Gael parliamentary party to refrain from making disparaging remarks about Mr Trump, after Mr Kenny accused him of using “racist and dangerous” language.

“I believe it’s important that we continue to foster very good relations between Ireland and America. We offer our full support to President Trump and look forward to working with him constructively, with particular reference to the important issues like the Irish diaspora in the United States of America and other issues of tremendous importance,” said Mr Flanagan.

Fianna Fáil leader Michál Martin - who also previously criticised Mr Trump - also expressed his congratulations but said some of his proposals could damage Irish interests.

“In his victory speech, Mr Trump said that he would move now to heal the wounds of the campaign and would govern for all,” Mr Martin said. “This is welcome. There will be much reflection on the dynamics of this campaign and the factors involved.

“There is no doubt that some of the policy positions articulated by Mr Trump during his campaign are a cause for concern for our interests, for example the renegotiation of trade agreements, his pursuit of US companies headquartered overseas and the position of undocumented Irish.”

Full text of statement by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the election of Mr Donald J Trump:

On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I am pleased to offer our sincere congratulations to Donald J. Trump on his election as the 45th President of the United States. Ireland and the United States have enjoyed a very close and warm relationship for many generations and I am confident that under his leadership our bilateral relations will continue to prosper.

Also, we think today of Hillary Clinton, a friend to Ireland who fought such a tough campaign. We are all acutely conscious of the particular responsibility of the United States for leadership and engagement across the globe in our endeavours to address shared challenges. I look forward to working with the new administration in the time ahead in the cause of international peace and security.

I also intend to work closely with the new Administration and newly elected United States Congress to pursue comprehensive immigration reform, an issue that is so important to tens of thousands of Irish people who are making a major contribution to America.

I also want to congratulate the President-Elect’s running mate, Mr. Mike Pence, on his election as Vice-President.

The Vice President-elect is a proud Irish American who spent many summers in Ireland as a child.

The Government looks forward to working closely with our new colleagues in the White House. In the meantime, the Government will continue to engage actively and constructively with the administration of President Obama, until he completes his term on January 20th.