Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
58. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to attend the St Patrick's Day engagements in the United States; if he intends to boycott engagement with officials of the US administration for its role in arming Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3298/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSt. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland around the world. The Government’s programme of international travel for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day is still being finalised, but is expected to include ministerial visits to a spread of locations in the United States.
Ireland enjoys extremely strong relations with the United States. Each year St Patrick's Day provides a unique opportunity to connect with our extensive Irish community there. By providing a platform to promote Ireland as an excellent location to do business and to invest, St Patrick's Day helps consolidate the mutually beneficial and highly integrated trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the United States. There are almost one thousand US companies in Ireland, employing over two hundred thousand people directly, while 650 Irish companies provide direct employment to over one hundred thousand people in the US.
As part of the range of engagements in the US, the Taoiseach will undertake the traditional St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington DC. This visit gives Ireland unique access to the President of the United States, as well as senior members of the US administration, and Congress. The Taoiseach will use the opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including global issues of mutual concern.
Separately, I will be visiting Washington DC and Chicago in February, where I will meet with senior representatives of President Biden’s Administration and members of Congress. These meetings will be an opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including the conflicts in the Middle East. I will give Ireland’s clear position in support of an immediate and durable humanitarian ceasefire and the restoration of a political horizon, and the need to avoid a wider escalation of this conflict as an absolute priority.
I welcomed President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken’s recent visits to meet partners in the region. The US played a significant role in securing a temporary truce, along with Egypt and Qatar. Ongoing US engagement is essential to finding a solution to the current conflict and restoring a political horizon.
