TÁNAISTE EAMON GILMORE has rejected suggestions that he has been ‘invisible’ since last February’s general election and said he has never worked as hard at any job in his life.

The Labour leader, who is the new chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, told RTE presenter Pat Kenny that he has been kept busy with four jobs.

The Tánaiste also unveiled plans to bring former Soviet countries to Ireland to learn from the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process.

“I’ve never worked as hard in my life as I have worked since this government came into office in March of last year,” he said on Today with Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1 this morning.

“I sometimes tell people that I have four jobs – I’m a TD for my constituency, I’m the leader of my party, I’m the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I’m also  Tánaiste with responsibility across the whole area of government”.

RTE presenter Pat Kenny had suggested that the Tánaiste would become “more invisible” as the result of a busy upcoming year which will see the Minister for Foreign Affairs spending time in other countries.

The Tánaiste also announced that  former Soviet countries will be invited to Ireland for talks to learn from the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process.

Representatives from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan will all come to Ireland in April to discuss how to settle ongoing conflicts in the area, drawing on the Northern Ireland model, Gilmore said.

The Tánaiste is the new Chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and has outlined his priorities for the organisation for the coming year, which focus on an “inclusive” approach to tackling “modern security challenges”.

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