In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that he anticipates receiving an invitation to the White House, where he would discuss “a broad range of issues” with US President Donald Trump, reports RTE.
“It’s a time-honoured tradition which we appreciate,” Mr Martin said, reports RTE.
“President Trump – when he was previously president – continued with that tradition. Ireland and President Trump worked well in that period, and we want a constructive engagement and relationship,” he said, reports RTE.
When asked if he would bring up Mr. Trump’s recent remarks about governing Gaza and making it a “Riviera of the Middle East,” Mr. Martin responded that Ireland has a very clear stance on the territory.
“The focus has to be on a ceasefire, that the second phase of the ceasefire is confirmed, that all the hostages are released and that there is a massive surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” he said, reports RTE.
“It is hell on Earth, of that there is no doubt. But the immediate focus has to be on getting aid and supports into the Palestinian people in Gaza and to reduce level of conflict and violence in the region more generally,” reports RTE.
A variety of topics would be covered in the conference, he noted.
“The economic relationship between Europe and the US, and Ireland and the US, is very significant. Trade between the EU and the US is the biggest in the world. We have a very strong presence in America. Irish companies have created about 100,000 jobs in America, we export a lot to America. And we have a lot of US multinationals who employ around 200,000 people in Ireland,” Mr Martin said, reports RTE.
“So, there is a strong economic relationship and there is a strong cultural relationship, familial and also a strong diaspora there. So, all of those issues will be part of any discussions we have with the President,” he said, reports RTE.
The current US president has invited the Taoiseach of the day to the White House on a “annual basis” for decades, according to Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris, who previously stated that he “would expect it to happen again” this year.
It occurs at a time when over 80 nations, including Ireland, have denounced Mr. Trump’s threat of tariffs and sanctions against the International Criminal Court, reports RTE.
Mr. Harris stated that he “would expect” the invitation to be sent for the visit to take place, even in the face of persistent diplomatic problems.
The Tánaiste stated that he planned to travel to the United States concurrently with the Taoiseach’s rumoured White House visit during an interview with RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne. However, he clarified that he would be travelling to a “different location” than the Taoiseach, reports RTE.
“Congratulating him on his appointment” is what Mr. Harris claimed to have written to his US colleague, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It coincides with opposition MPs calling on the government to abstain from the yearly St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House.
TD: People Before Profit Paul Murphy stated: “On St. Patrick’s Day, no Irish politician should travel to Washington to engage with Donald Trump or his administration, reports RTE.
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