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Micheál Martin with Donald Trump in the White House last year. Alamy Stock Photo
The Morning Lead
We asked every coalition TD if the Taoiseach should go to Washington
Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Fearghaíl said Micheál Martin should heed the advice of California Governor Gavin Newson this week.
GOVERNMENT TDS POLLED by The Journal have overwhelmingly backed the Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House, despite global chaos and recent tariff threats from the US President.
In our audit, none were willing to warn the Taoiseach off the trip, with the majority insisting the tradition should be upheld.
While most highlighted the importance of the visit to Washington DC each year, Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the former Ceann Comhairle, said:
I think that the Taoiseach, who doesn’t need my advice, should consider the advice given by Governor Gavin Newsom to other political leaders.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, the California governor said world leaders are being “played” by the US president and urged them to stop rolling over.
“It’s time to buck up, it’s time to get serious and stop being complicit,” he told reporters.
“I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over. I should have brought knee pads for all the world leaders … this is pathetic.”
While Micheál Martin faced similar pressure last year due to US arms supplies to Israel being used in Gaza, questions are already growing as to whether there is now enough cause for the Taoiseach to reconsider gifting the bowl of shamrock to Trump this year.
TD Audit
Of the 86 Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs contacted by The Journal this week, by phone, text and email, 31 responded with their support for the visit. Independent TDs in government were also contacted, with one responding.
No government TD said the Taoiseach should not go.
Ministers such as Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee and Children’s Minister Norma Foley said they support the trip to Washington DC going ahead this year, while Enterprise Minister Peter Burke told The Journal:
“We have always promoted dialogue and engagement and have a long and proud history of diplomacy. There is no other country of our size in the world which gets an annual audience with the US President, with this tradition going back decades.”
He pointed out that there are almost 250,000 workers employed by US companies in Ireland, with a similar number of Americans employed by Irish companies across all 50 states of the US.
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary reiterated the point he made during the week, stating that it is important for the Taoiseach to attend.
Minister of State for International Affairs and the Diaspora Neale Richmond agreed, telling The Journal:
“Yes, the Taoiseach should go. Diplomacy isn’t just about engaging when things are easy. Now is exactly the time that the Taoiseach should go to the White House. It is both the right and responsible thing to do.
“The annual audience with the president of the United States, whoever it is, is an important opportunity not just to protect our interests but also share our values.”
He said other Taoisigh, such as Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris, have laid strong precedents of how to engage an American president on difficult issues, “much like Micheál Martin was able to also navigate a potentially difficult engagement last year”.
Junior Minister at the Department of Public Expenditure Emer Higgins said:
“If we don’t talk, if we don’t use diplomacy, then what are we left with? After all, he is a democratically elected president, and in my view the Taoiseach should absolutely be there, having those conversations.”
‘Of course we should go’
Minister of State at the Department of Justice Niall Collins said:
Yes, of course he should go. What does not going achieve?
Backbench TDs in both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael also said they had no issue with the visit.
Fianna Fáil Longford-Westmeath TD Robert Troy said that at a time of significant global conflict, it’s important to keep dialogue open and use every opportunity for engagement.
He said not attending would risk being seen as Ireland turning its back on the US and “could be unnecessarily inflammatory”.
One Fianna Fáil TD pointed out that matters could change, but as Trump has now said he won’t use force to take Greenland, it would be okay for Martin to go to the White House. They said that Trump won’t always be president, and therefore it is important to keep the tradition going.
Fianna Fáil TDs Catherine Ardagh and Seamus McGrath were also in agreement, with McGrath stating: “As things stand, I believe he should go. Dialogue and engagement is important. We need to keep the channels of engagement open.”
Dublin South-West TD John Lahart also said Martin should go, unless the situation changed dramatically, while Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere said the trip is a “timed honoured tradition”.
Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne said the week around St Patrick’s Day is about more than the White House, stating there are innumerable other meetings taking place that week:
“Ireland has so many vital links with the United States. This is not about whomever is occupying the office of President, but about those links. And I strongly disagree with many of President Trump’s views.
“Dialogue is always crucial in geopolitics, even with those with whom you fundamentally disagree,” said Byrne.
Don’t snub the US president
Cork East TD James O’Connor had a similar sentiment, stating:
Anyone who thinks it’s a clever idea for Ireland to snub the President of the United States in the current political climate should have their head examined.
While some wonder whether Trump will extend the invitation to the Taoiseach this year, TD Tom Brabazon said he expects an invitation from the White House to arrive.
“This invitation was very slow to come last year. In fact, it was very last minute,” he said, highlighting that events around Trump can change day to day.
He believes the decision as to whether to attend or not “should not be made until the last minute, so that an accurate up-to-date assessment can be made of the situation”.
“Whatever we do should be in the best interests of the Irish people and of our diaspora and, of course, in line with international law,” he said, stating that diplomatic channels should be kept open, but that position could be reviewed in the event of any infringement of a country’s sovereignty.
Fine Gaelers are also on Martin’s side, with the likes of TD Brian Brennan saying that it is very easy to go when everything is going well. He said it takes “a lot of backbone in difficult situations – now more than ever we need strong voices”.
TD Colm Burke said while things have changed with Trump in Office, it is important to keep the door with the US open “at all times”, while TD John Clendennan told The Journal that the traditional St. Patrick’s Day visit remains important.
“Such visits should not be seen as endorsements of any administration’s policies, but as opportunities to advocate for Ireland, for Europe, and for the shared values that underpin our international relationships,” he said.
Though The Journal asked the independent members of government for their views, only Minister of State Michael Healy Rae responded, saying that in his view, the Taoiseach should be going to the White House for St. Patrick’s Day.
“We’re a small country, but we have a strong and respected voice internationally, and St Patrick’s Day is about diplomacy, conversation and maintaining relationships, not just in the United States, but right across the world.
“If we don’t talk, if we don’t use diplomacy, then what are we left with? After all he is a democratically elected president, and in my view the Taoiseach should absolutely be there, having those conversations.”
Opposition view
Labour, the Social Democrats and the likes of People Before Profit have all questioned whether the Taoiseach should head stateside this year.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said this week that there should be no appeasement if Trump continues his threats, and that should include putting a question mark over the White House visit.
The Social Democrats have argued that the trip is nearly two months away, but that if the Taoiseach does go, it can’t just be a photo op, he needs to deliver a strong message to Trump about the chaos he is causing and stand up for Ireland, the EU and its values.
Sinn Féin has kept its cards close to its chest about whether its leader Mary Lou McDonald will repeat her boycott of the White House this year. Similarly, there have been no calls from the party for the Taoiseach to boycott his visit this year.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said the Taoiseach should still visit the White House for St Patrick’s Day.
“Washington is just one of (the countries we travel to), but it’s a really important visit in the overall context, and certainly something that we’re not going to pull back from,” she said.
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