Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to the United States later today to take part in a series of engagements marking St Patrick’s Day.
His official visit will begin tomorrow in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he is scheduled to attend political, economic and Irish community events before heading to Washington DC for the traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations, reports RTE.
Mr Martin is also set to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House.
Opposition parties have called on the Taoiseach to challenge President Trump over US-Israeli attacks on Iran, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald previously urged the Taoiseach to clearly condemn the US-Israeli strikes without qualification. Speaking in the Dáil last week, she asked him to state plainly that the attacks were a breach of international law.
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The Labour Party also criticised the Government, saying its failure to condemn what it described as illegal strikes across the Middle East was “shameful”, reports RTE.
However, the Government has stopped short of describing the operation as a violation of international law and has instead called for efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The White House St Patrick’s Day reception, including the traditional shamrock presentation ceremony, will take place on the evening of 17 March, reports RTE.
During the event, the Taoiseach will present President Trump with the customary bowl of shamrock, extending St Patrick’s Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the United States.
Speaking ahead of his departure from Cork, the Taoiseach said: “St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to recognise Ireland’s global community and the enduring connections that link people of Irish heritage around the world, reports RTE.
“The relationship between Ireland and the United States is one of our most enduring, rooted in history and exemplified by the roles so many Irish immigrants played in the pursuit of American independence some 250 years ago.
“I expect there will also be an opportunity to discuss global matters, including how Ireland and the EU can work with the United States to reach peaceful resolutions in the Middle East and Ukraine,” reports RTE.
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