Michael Martin, the Taoiseach, has stated that US President Donald Trump is “always welcome to visit Ireland” before to his visit to the White House tomorrow.
The Irish Government’s customary St. Patrick’s Day international activities will include Mr. Trump hosting the Taoiseach in the White House’s Oval Office tomorrow.
Speaking today in Texas, Mr. Martin expressed his excitement about the trip.
“I’m excited about it. This is a good chance. It honours the Irish American diaspora, which is a very significant heritage between Ireland and the US. Usually, it takes place during the week of Saint Patrick. The President made a very nice announcement when he designated Ireland Heritage Month. I think it’s an opportunity to celebrate that in the first instance, and then to discuss the issues of the day and obviously the economic relationship will be very strong and a key part of it. The President is always welcome to visit Ireland,” added Mr Martin, reports RTE.
During their next bilateral discussion tomorrow, Mr. Martin will inform Mr. Trump that the US and Ireland have a “two-way street” of investment, given the trade imbalance between the two nations.
The meeting takes place in the midst of growing anxiety that the president’s protectionist tax and tariff policies will seriously jeopardise Ireland’s economy, which is heavily reliant on long-standing investments from US multinational corporations, reports RTE.
Mr. Martin did, however, say that he wanted businesses doing business in Ireland to “hold the nerve” and not “react too quickly” to the possible significant changes in policy.
The Taoiseach stated that his goal was to “copper fasten” the “enduring nature” of the US-Irish economic partnership as he continued his tour in Austin, Texas, today, reports RTE.
Before leaving the Lone Star State for Washington, DC, where he will attend a St. Patrick’s Day Reception at the Irish Ambassador’s Residence, he will meet with state lawmakers at the Texas Capitol in the city.
Ireland functions as a “powerful base” for the European single market, and Mr. Martin stated yesterday that the primary points he will be bringing up with Mr. Trump are “how it’s a two-way street” of investment.
“It’s not just American investment in Ireland, it’s Irish investment in America as well,” he continued when interviewed for a fireside chat at the city’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, reports RTE.
Earlier, Mr. Martin visited US IT conglomerates Dell and Tricentis, the latter of which announced intentions to hire 50 more employees at its Cork headquarters over the next several years, and he met with Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The Fianna Fáil leader also attended a “pop-up Gaeltacht” at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters for SXSW, Ireland House, talked with companies backed by Enterprise Ireland, and presented a panel on the Irish film industry, reports RTE.
The Taoiseach attended a St. Patrick’s celebration sponsored by the Irish embassy in Austin at the same location, capping off his jam-packed schedule.
During their discussion, Mr. Martin and Mr. Trump are anticipated to talk about a variety of topics, including as the conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland, reports RTE.
During what is being called a pivotal moment in European-US relations, a number of Irish Government officials will also visit the United States, including Tánaiste Simon Harris, who will make stops in Philadelphia and New York.
In other news, an NI Chamber business team visited North Carolina yesterday, led by Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Following Ms. O’Neill’s and her Sinn Fein party colleagues’ refusal to come to the US capital as part of “a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza,” Ms. Little-Pengelly will be attending engagements in Washington, DC, by herself, reports RTE.
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