LAST UPDATE | 4 Apr 2025

THE TAOISEACH WAS told how to deal with questions around Donald Trump, Michael Lowry and accusations that his government mislead the public on housing figures last year ahead of his Late Late Show appearance.

Micheál Martin was the opening guest on the Friday night chat show on 28 February, when he discussed everything his upcoming White House visit to the possibility of US tariffs on European goods.

The appearance came on the same day as the infamous row between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, and was Martin’s first media appearance since the incident (though the notes were likely compiled before the row).

At the time of the interview, the Taoiseach was to be the next European leader to visit the US president and pressure was mounting on him about how he would deal with Trump.

Briefing notes for his appearance on the show, which are standard for political leaders and which were obtained by The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act, show how Martin was prepped by officials in his department ahead of the interview.

The top of the document outlined what the Taoiseach’s key message on the show should be, urging him to focus on housing, protecting the economy and “strengthening the social contract”.

It included suggestions to say “I’m not interested in playing politics” and “I guided the country through a once in a century pandemic – and I’ll guide us through any challenges”.

In a section about the Dáil speaking rights row, the Taoiseach was advised to say “we need to get on with the bread-and-butter issues that matter to people” and “this has been an overreaction by the opposition”.

A subsection titled “Why Lowry” also referenced questions about independent TD Michael Lowry, who helped lead the Rural Independent Group in government formation negotiations with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Here, the Taoiseach was advised to say that “this is not about individuals” and to say a deal was struck with the Rural Independents “because neither Labour nor the Soc Dems were serious” about going into government.

Elsewhere, Martin was briefed to discuss what was then his upcoming trip to the White House for St Parick’s Day by emphasising the “rich history and deep bonds” between Ireland and the US.

He was advised to say “the US President is an important office” and to describe tariffs as “counterproductive” measures that would “hurt consumers everywhere”.

The Taoiseach was also urged to emphasise the opportunity that the visit presented, with a note telling him to say “Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day engagement is not just an opportunity for Ireland but also as part of the wider engagement between the EU and the US”.

Another prompt read: “If ever there was a time for dialogue, it is now.”

‘Thank you for your involvement’

One note included a suggestion to thank host Patrick Kielty for his involvement in the Shared Island initiative, based on a government unit formed in 2020 to examine various considerations around a possible united Ireland.

Kielty spoke at a hearing of the Shared Island Forum in 2021, which was held to mark the first year of the unit.

Under a heading in his Late Late Show briefing titled ‘Shared Island’, a bullet point for the Taoiseach suggested he say to Kielty: “I know the Shared Island initiative is something you’re aware of, and I thank you for your past involvement.”

Another section headed “40k vs 30k in 2024?” addressed the controversy over the Government’s pre-election claim that 40,000 homes would be built last year, a figure which ultimately fell short by several thousand.

Internal Department of Housing documents showed that several other reports estimated the figure would be below 40,000, and that officials highlighted a report by BNP Paribas last August that suggested hitting the Government’s target would be “challenging”.

Nevertheless, Martin was advised to say on the Late Late Show that then-Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien based the estimates before the election on “a number of expert reports [by] Cairn Homes, Danske Bank”.

He was also advised to say that “very strong commencement data” indicated that “60,000 new homes started in the last year”, though commencement notices do not necessarily indicate this.