Last weekend was Le Weekend Francais and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, was in Paris to enjoy at least part of it. Here he is with Prime Minister Lionel Jospin (right) at the Hotel Matignon on Monday. Le Weekend started on Friday when the French Minister for Sport, communist Marie-George Buffet, arrived in Dublin for Le Tour. She went to the Aras for a reception hosted by the President, Mrs McAleese, visited the Tour headquarters at Dublin Castle and she and her party were entertained to dinner in Howth that night by her Irish counterpart, James McDaid.
All day Saturday le cycling dominated the agenda and the Taoiseach was on the podium in O'Connell Street for les prix. On Sunday he flew to Paris with his daughter Georgina, where they were guests at le grand finale du Coupe du Monde.
On Monday the Taoiseach had discussions, mostly on agriculture, with Jospin. An invitation to join le premier ministre and President Chirac for Bastille Day on the Champs Elysees and at the Elysees Palace, had to be regretfully turned down because of the volatile situation in the North.