Tánaiste Micheál Martin begins four-day US visit
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Tánaiste Micheál Martin kicks off a programme of activities on Tuesday as part a four-day trip to Washington DC and Chicago.
The Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister touched down in the US capital on Monday ahead of the brief visit, which will take in meetings with US politicians and members of President Joe Biden’s administration.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said this year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States, with Mr Martin’s visit set to mark that milestone.
Across Tuesday and Wednesday, the Tánaiste will meet several members of the US Congress, the Congressional Friends of Ireland and Biden officials.
While a statement said the Tánaiste will use the opportunity of these meetings to discuss Ireland’s bilateral relationship with the US as well as “global challenges”, it is understood the current situation in the Middle East will be high on the agenda.
At the weekend, President Michael D Higgins called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after a “comprehensive” phone call with Sligo native Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme.
Watching the situation unfold “in near silence is a suggestion that removes all morality from any stated position of public concern for the most basic of human rights", he said.
President Higgins said it was a “global crisis that offers a terrible nadir of human concern and must be opposed in order to prevent it being invoked in future conflicts”.
Ireland has long supported a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine.
Even before the recent hostilities, on a visit in September, the Tánaiste had signalled he believed this solution was further from becoming a reality than it had before.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 which killed more than 1,200 people, Israeli strikes against Gaza have resulted in more than 27,000 Palestinians being killed.
As well as the situation in Gaza, the agenda will also include developments in Northern Ireland, which has seen the Stormont Assembly finally restored at the weekend with Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill appointed First Minister. Ukraine, humanitarian aid, and trade will also feature in the discussions.
In Washington, the Tánaiste will also deliver an address at the Atlantic Council and meet with US business representatives with operations in Ireland.
Travelling to Chicago on Wednesday, Mr Martin will meet the governor of Illinois JB Pritzker and mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson.
He will also meet members of the local Irish community and announce plans to open a new “Ireland House” in Chicago at an address to the City Club of Chicago.
Mr Martin said: “I look forward to returning to the United States this week to discuss ways of further strengthening our excellent bilateral relations on the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States this year.
“Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive last week, I will update our friends in the United States Congress and President Biden’s administration on these developments and the challenges that remain, and discuss the role the United States can continue to play in ensuring peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is due to visit the US next month for the customary St Patrick’s Day meeting with the American president.
Mr Martin’s itinerary for the customary March exodus of ministers will include visits to Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto in Canada.