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TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS will travel to Washington DC today ahead of his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday.
However, before the trip has even begun, there has been a setback, with a reception for invited guests at the White House Rose Garden being “postponed” due to an incoming hurricane.
Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it heads towards landfall in Florida expected on Wednesday.
The Dáil is to begin an hour earlier today so as to facilitate the Taoiseach taking Leaders’ Questions before he catches his flight this afternoon.
Following the meeting at the White House on Wednesday, the Taoiseach and President Biden were due to hold an event to mark the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US.
However, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: “President Biden and Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke last night.
“The President asked that they would proceed as planned at the Oval Office on Wednesday but, given the grave threat posed in the United States by Hurricane Milton, they would postpone the reception in the Rose Garden until a later date.
“The Taoiseach will proceed with all other parts of his program in Washington.”
Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it heads towards a possible landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Biden and Harris were originally scheduled to speak at an event to mark the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US.
The event was also billed as an opportunity to “reflect on President Biden’s career-long friendship with Ireland”.
During his visit to Washington DC, the Taoiseach will also undertake a number of other engagements, including political meetings as well as an event at Georgetown University on Thursday.
This visit will be Harris’s first to the White House as Taoiseach and his first meeting with Biden.
Harris said last week that he plans to raise concerns about the US administration’s ongoing support for Israel, particularly in relation to providing arms for Israeli forces.
Harris insisted Ireland’s foreign policy was consistent, stating:
“The beauty of Irish foreign policy is its consistency. No matter who carries out the offence, whether you’re a big country, whether you’re a small country, we have a consistent approach towards de-escalation, ceasefire, dialogue, peace and respect for the UN and international courts.
“And that’s what I say to every counterpart and leader I meet.”
He said there are “great friendships between Ireland and America that run beyond any individual, including me”.
“There are people getting out of bed this morning and going to work in companies where those jobs have been created by companies in the United States of America and vice versa. Our countries have great, proud diplomatic links.
“I’m proud of the diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States of America, and I believe the overwhelming majority of people in this country are too. I’m also proud of the tradition of taoisigh and presidents being able to engage on issues too.
“But you also speak the truth to your friends. And Ireland’s never afraid to speak our view. And I’m not afraid of that either. We speak the truth. We speak up for our foreign policy.
“We have an independent foreign policy, and our independent foreign policy is very clear in relation to what should happen in the Middle East,” said the Taoiseach.
There has been a marked escalation in the violence in the Middle East since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in Washington DC in March.
Significant pressure was placed on Varadkar to raise concerns about Gaza and the US support for Israel through the delivery of arms.
Varadkar raised the issue of Gaza in the Oval Office meeting, but the Taoiseach was quick to tell the media afterwards that Biden made it clear to him that the US would continue to supply weapons to Israel.
All eyes will be on Harris this week to see if he delivers a similar message to the president in the Oval Office this week. It should be noted that Varadkar made such remarks in the knowledge that he had planned to step away from his role as Taoiseach upon his return to Ireland.
Harris is in a different position, instead facing towards a general election, when all his actions and words will be heavily scrutisined
The March visit was the subject of much criticism, as some politicians called on then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to boycott the White House over the United States’ response to the war in Gaza.
Political Editor Christina Finn will be in Washington DC to bring you all the latest from the week’s events.
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Two frail confused men.
@Freda Peeple: In your ideal scenario, what politicians are taoiseach and president of the US? Rather than whingeing, why not share your vision?
@honey badger: I think she just did
@Freda Peeple: I hope that Taoiseach of ours let’s Biden know the huge support Ireland has for Palestine.
@honey badger: I’d like to see the dems win in America, for Taoiseach anyone but Harris, he is not up to the task, a pushover and not up to leading a conga line never mind a country in distress.
@honey badger: Michael O Leary and Oprah Winfrey. Just sayin
@Freda Peeple: ha, brilliant
@Freda Peeple: anyone but Harris? What, like Ryan or Martin, or maybe Mary Lou? Would ya get outta here, sure you’re on another article defending Orban
@Kevin Kerr: None of them either, I’d like Peadar Tobin. And Kevin you need to get a hobby or stalk someone else for a while, I didn’t defend Orban! But we need a stronger stance against immigration. Unless you are happy with migrants slapping 1 year old children full force in the face.
@Freda Peeple: So not anyone but Harris. Got it. Oh and I reply to an occasional post of yours, as you have to mine, and you’re kinda fond of name calling too. So get down off your high horse
Why is he travelling there . For what reason
@Karen Marten: Kamala needs a boost in the swing states.
@Karen Marten: like haven’t they heard of video calls .
@Karen Marten: 100 years of Irish – American diplomatic relationship and he dosent want to be the second taoiseach to miss out on the fawning handshake and photo op pre- election which based on announced social welfare payments and energy credits may be as soon as December.
@Karen Marten: Face to Face is so much better. And as for ‘Zoom’ or ‘Teams’! People who say ‘Why didn’t they use Zoom?’ have clearly never sat through a Zoom meeting. The ultimate ‘box-ticking’ exercise.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: sorry but he s just ignoring every thing. On your bike is telling us. . All for a hand shake. Unbelievable
@Spanner: that’s an expensive ar se licking trip for us
The cost of this trip would be better spent on the children requiring treatment in America
Better yet bring them with you
@Michael Lyons: 100%agree
Totally irresponsible of Harris flying to Washington DC, just to get a photo. There is a major Hurricane Warning on the US easy coast and he is putting the lives of the aircraft crew in danger.
@Jack Cass: The hurricane warning is aboit 2000km away. Roughly the same distance as Dublin to Berlin. I’d say the plane and passengers are safe enough.
@Jack Cass: hope fully it will take him just him
The postponement should have been made by us in an effort to stop the war in the middle east
@RIP: They should make a joint statement demanding that Hamas and Hezbollah stop attacking and killing Jews and that hostages be released. It simple. Stop killing.
@thomas molloy: says the good Israeli patriot. Look what Israel has done to the Palestinian people for decades. This did not start on October 7, 2023. How many innocent Palestinian people are Israel holding in there prison? Rebuilding new settlemens pushing Palestinian people from there homes.. Kindly do some research in your history.before posting. The only problem here is netanyahu and the war criminals the IDF backed by America.
@thomas molloy: I suppose in your blinkered little world no wrongs are committed against the Palestinians by the Jewish state and the history between the two began only on October the 7th of last year, do yourself a little favour and read the full history of the place and perhaps then you may understand the plight of the Palestinian people and who’s right and who’s wrong.
@John finn: Calling the purchasing of homes by non Muslims settlements what will be conjured up about Dublin15 in the future.
@Leonard Barry: True it is a complicated history going back thousands of years. So why should anyone take one side only. Hamas and others think killing and a new holocaust is their solution but it didn’t work the last time.
@thomas molloy: and what about the palestine people in the west bank.
Rain man and a joker
I would be delighted if the politican alledged to be a russian spy was one of the 11 senators picked by the taoiseach. The practise of appointing 11 senators IS NOT DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. IT IS WRONG.
He should be heading to Lebanon if its safe for the troops it’s safe for him.
Stand with Palestine.
No US planes in our airspace.
Fantastic for Ireland to have this white house meeting and another for St Patricks Day. We as a country are given access other countries can only dream off. Least the US President does not have to meet the SF Pedo Party and Mary Muslim Lou.
@Trump23: maybe read the times where Biden told Borris Johnston at a meeting that He was of British Decent as his Family were from Kent & in the article Johnston says He probally told a different story in Dublin, Biden is a discrace he calls for peace & sends 21billions worth of arms to Israel at the same time Talking out of the 2 sides of his mouth
@Trump23: Biden is meeting an intellectual inferior whose party facilitated the mass sexual/physical abuse and murder of our children by the Catholic church by allowing the church to deal with this, all the church did was play moving chairs with the pedo priests and FFG did nothing to stop this.
@Sheila McNulty: Nobody cares as long as Israel finish the job.
@Mr Inbetween: It’s the SF Pedo party we are discussing if you are standing up for them maybe your computer needs to be checked next.
They can share concerns that political activity in Ireland has become an instrument of Russian undermining of democracy.
Why do the meeja continue to refer to Israeli attackers as defence forces. Bias?
@Padraig O’Brien: That’s what they are called, the Israeli Defence Forces or the IDF, ironic
If Harris looks annoyed Biden can always sing:
‘I beg your pardon,
I never promised you a rose garden’
Kick him if he mention stubbbit heritage,
have your say