During a breakfast meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, Taoiseach Micheál Martin emphasised the “steadfast” bond between the US and Ireland, reports RTE.
With Irish music playing in the background, Mr. Vance greeted Mr. Martin and his spouse at the Vice Presidential mansion on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory.
The Taoiseach’s visit to the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump was the first of many encounters that would follow, reports RTE.
According to Mr. Vance, the purpose of the breakfast was to remind everyone of the “important bonds of friendship” that exist between the US and Ireland, reports RTE.
He claimed to have observed Ireland’s “beautiful” scenery and “interesting technological growth” while there.
“The president is a very big fan of conservative dress, so if he notices these socks, you have to defend this as an important part of cementing the Irish-American relationship,” Mr. Vance quipped, showing out a pair of shamrock socks to the audience, reports RTE.
Mr. Martin expressed gratitude to Mr. Vance for his “warm welcome and hospitality” and mentioned that after seeing the vice president’s socks, he would have to “adjust very rapidly” his “conservative” dress style, reports RTE.
Among those there were Geraldine Byrne Nason, the ambassador of Ireland to the United States, and Robert F. Kennedy, the secretary of health for the United States.
In his remarks, the Taoiseach emphasised the “for centuries” affinity that has existed between the two countries, reports RTE.
He said that last year marked the 100th anniversary of Irish-US diplomatic ties and that “in fact, the United States was the first country to recognise our long-sought independence.”
The United States and Ireland “have built deep and enduring political, cultural, and economic bonds” together, according to Mr. Martin, reports RTE.
He asserted that these connections were “built upon the ties between our people”
Using Mr. Vance’s Scots-Irish ancestry as an example, the Taoiseach said that many members of this group settled in Appalachia and “played a key role” in forming the United States, pointing to their work on the railroads, reports RTE.
Mr. Martin went on to say that Irish Americans “keep making their mark on America” in the fields of politics, the arts, and business.
Ireland “is now in the top ten as a source of foreign direct investment into the US,” according to the Taoiseach, sustaining “hundreds of thousands of people’s” jobs.
“They have helped to sustain our people-to-people ties and make a crucial contribution to our economic relationship,” he said, reports RTE.
He asserted that the US “remains an indispensable partner” in maintaining world peace.
He praised the efforts made by Mr. Trump and his administration to bring about peace in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“We know that building peace is a difficult and painstaking task,” he said, adding Ireland is ready to “play our part” in supporting work to end such conflicts, reports RTE.
“I know we care deeply about the world our children and our children’s children inherit,” Mr. Martin remarked, referring to the vice president. “And I know that the US and Ireland will continue to stand together, working tirelessly to secure a future that offers the promise of peace and prosperity,” reports RTE.
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