Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade with US Secretary of State, John Kerry at the Glen of Aherlow today. Source: Department of Foreign Affairs

Updated 4.20pm

THE US SECRETARY of Secretary of State John Kerry was in Co Tipperary today where he was awarded with an Irish peace prize.

Secretary Kerry attended an awards ceremony organised by the Tipperary Peace Convention, where he was presented with the 2015 Tipperary International Peace Award.

But with just days to go before the US election comes to a close, and given the recent turn of events which include a renewed FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server and Donald Trump closing the gap in the latest Fox News polls, there was a lot of other issues on people’s minds.

While in Tipperary, Sec. Kerry was asked about his involvement. He said that neither he or his department had been contacted by the FBI over its renewed investigation.

“No, I haven’t been notified of anything, no, I haven’t been requested of anything, no, I’m not aware of the department being requested.”

Kerry said it would be up to the US Department of Justice and the FBI to respond to further questions about the probe, which has rocked the race for the White House.

He also added the following:

“By the way, obviously as an American citizen – not to mention as a former nominee of the party – there’s a lot I’d love to say about what has been going on.

“But I can’t and I’m just going to remain out of this,” he said.

Moving on

Source: Matt Slocum

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan met with the Secretary of State upon his arrival in Co Tipperary this morning.

Minister Flanagan said of John Kerry receiving the award:

“Today, [John Kerry] joined a long list of very distinguished awardees, including Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, George Mitchell, Bill Clinton, Benazir Bhutto, Mary McAleese and, most recently, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Secretary Kerry has an outstanding record of public service going back three decades and more. His record is one of distinguished service at state, national and international level.

Flanagan said that in a meeting this morning they discussed a number of international affairs, including the Northern Ireland Peace Process, undocumented Irish citizens and Brexit.

Syria, Brexit & Northern Peace Process among issues for discussion when I meet US Sec of State John Kerry in Tipperary shortly. pic.twitter.com/M8FBfpoN26 — Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) October 30, 2016 Source: Charlie Flanagan /Twitter

He said:

“Secretary Kerry and I discussed a number of international issues, notably the appalling situation in Syria.

“The Secretary of State has demonstrated enormous commitment to finding a resolution to the conflict in Syria. I assured him of Ireland’s unfailing support for his efforts to find a peaceful resolution to this harrowing conflict.”

With reporting from AFP