A new era in Celtic relations began yesterday, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, officially opened Ireland's first consulate in Scotland in a prominent Georgian terrace in Edinburgh's prestigious New Town.
The Minister was the first international visitor to Edinburgh since it restored its own Parliament on May 6th last, after a gap of nearly 300 years. On behalf of the Taoiseach, Mr Andrews invited Mr Donald Dewar to visit Dublin within the next few months. This could be the first such international visit that the First Minister of Scotland undertakes, further underlining the significance to Scotland of the new relationship.
Mr Andrews last visited Edinburgh as Minister for Foreign Affairs for the European Council meeting in 1992, when 40,000 Scots took to the streets of the capital, demanding the parliament they now have.
The visit to the Scottish capital came a day after Mr Andrews had opened the new consulate in Cardiff, marking what is seen as an important investment to back up the peace process. Mr Dewar and Mr Alun Michael, First Minister of Wales, are both to have seats on the new British-Irish Council once the impasse over the Stormont Executive is resolved.
Accompanied by Mr Ted Barrington, the Irish Ambassador in London, Mr Andrews and Mr Dewar met for talks lasting 45 minutes yesterday morning at Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister.
The Government decided to set up the consulates soon after the Belfast Agreement was signed. Mr Daniel Mulhall, previously press counsellor in the Department in Dublin, became first consul-general in Scotland last September, and Mr Michael Lonergan is vice-consul.
There are already 37 consulates established in Scotland, and the US has had a mission in Edinburgh for more than 200 years. But with Scots showing an unprecedented interest in Irish affairs, and with Scottish nationalists arguing that the economy of an independent Scotland could also gain "Celtic Tiger" status, Mr Mulhall has made a major impact in eight months.
He said the consulate's priorities were "to build a network of contacts right across the spectrum in the political world, business contacts to pursue Ireland's economic interests, and contacts in culture, the Gaelic language and media".
The former president, Mrs Robinson, visited Scotland in 1997 for ceremonies in the Hebrides to mark the 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Columbkille.