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Updated 8pm
THERE HAVE BEEN calls for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to cancel his upcoming visit to the White House to mark St Patrick’s Day.
The issue has been raised on numerous occasions since Donald Trump was elected US President, but gained momentum this weekend following Trump’s attempt to stop refugees entering the US.
Today, the Greens called on Kenny to postpone the visit. Party leader Eamon Ryan said: “We have to stand up for what is right. The banning of refugees, the support for torture and the bullying of the Mexican government is simply intolerable.
We respect the US political system and value our historic connections but we cannot in all honesty hand over that bowl of shamrock in these circumstances.
“It is time for our Taoiseach to represent our country and what we stand for in the world. We should do so in a civil and diplomatic manner but proceeding as if everything is normal is not an option.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Brendan Howlin said: ”For decades, Irish governments have been able to enjoy significant access to senior US politicians in the days around St Patrick’s Day. This has allowed us to raise issues that matter to Ireland, and to Irish people in the US.
That access is valuable, but it is not the only thing of value. Ireland is an open and tolerant nation. We believe that those who are experiencing violence and oppression in their home nations should be welcomed to nations that can provide them with safety and security and opportunity.
A spokesperson from the Taoiseach’s Department told TheJournal.ie: ”In order to maintain the historically strong links between the Irish and American peoples it is important that the Taoiseach continues to engage with the US President and his administration in Washington around the events of St Patrick’s Day.
Doing so allows the Taoiseach to outline, in person, his government’s views on a range of issues, including business and economic ties, immigration and other matters of common interest. He will continue to act in the interests of Irish people and to that end he will raise these matters again this year.
However, Howlin added: “President Trump does not share our values. Indeed, he is openly hostile to them. He and his team have made clear that he is unwilling to hear, or even listen to discordant voices. In that context, the only thing a visit by the Taoiseach to the White House could achieve would be to present Ireland as a supine supporter of Trumpism.
Such a presentation would be humiliating to the vast majority of Irish people who stand opposed to the policies being implemented by President Trump.
“Put plainly, if the Muslim ban remains in place, Enda Kenny should not be boarding a plane to Washington in March. And our government should be working might and mane to make sure that these policies are not enforced on Irish soil.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said it’s important for Ireland to “engage with the new administration”.
However, given the current political environment, he said the annual tradition “can’t just be smiles and shamrocks”.
At the time of publication, over 24,000 people had signed a petition calling on Kenny to cancel the visit. It is one of a number of online petitions on the issue.
Refugee ban
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order barring all refugees from entering the US for three months. Those from war-ravaged Syria were set to be banned from entering the country indefinitely.
Trump said the ban was necessary to prevent “radical Islamic terrorists” from entering the nation. The ban affects people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
It led to people en route to the US being detained at airports, sparking several protests. Last night, a federal judge issued an emergency order temporarily barring the US from deporting people, saying travellers who had been detained had a strong argument their legal rights had been violated.
Some people are still being detained, with a lack of clarity about what will happen next.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan issued a statement about the issue today, saying: “While US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities, it is clear that the most recent decisions could have far-reaching implications – both on humanitarian grounds and on relations between the US and the global Muslim community.
“Accordingly, I share the concerns of other EU partners regarding this most recent development.
Many people are feeling great concern about these changes including some Irish citizens in the United States. Our embassy in Washington and consulates remain in active and ongoing contact with Irish immigration centres throughout the US. I am conscious that matters are still evolving and that the US courts are now involved. We will continue to monitor developments in this area very closely.
“Ireland has a vibrant multinational community which contribute a great deal to our country.”
Speaking about Trump’s executive order, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said: “This arbitrary ban and the refusal to offer sanctuary to refugees runs counter to international obligations, equality and decency. Generations of Irish fled starvation, poverty and conflict to make a new life and contribute to building America.
I congratulate the protesters at the airports last night and welcome the temporary stay on this unjust policy. I believe that the Irish government should not allow Irish airports to enforce this fundamentally unjust order.
In a statement from Anti-Austerity Alliance, Ruth Coppinger said: “Donald Trump’s executive order barring travel for those from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria is an openly racist act. It is targeted at Muslims predominantly, who have been consistently scapegoated and targeted by Trump.
It is heartening to see the scenes of thousands of people protest at airports at America, demanding that people are allowed in and in opposition to these policies. Last summer, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Trump was racist and dangerous. This executive order now means the government has to decide which side it’s on.
“Will it show solidarity with Muslims who are the targets of this immigration policy or will it turn a blind eye and allow US pre-clearance to carry out racist discrimination in our airports?”
What do you think: Should Kenny cancel the trip?
Contains reporting from AP and Cliódhna Russell
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If enda goes over can we refuse his re-entry into this country?
This is US policy has nothing to do with Ireland!
Interesting to see the poll is rapidly widening in favour of Yes,not enough Alt-Right trolls to vote No is seems.
So had Hitler’s policies in Germany nothing to do with Ireland or the rest of the world?
I’m usually called a Leftie, Trot, Communist and all other kinds of things- I’m actually A Democratic Socialist (Scandinavian style)! I think Enda Kenny should go, I don’t like Trump, didn’t like Clinton and hoped Bernie Sanders would be President! Obama bombed the crap out of 8 countries and fuelled the Syrian refugee crisis, if they were going to boycott they should have started when Reagan took office and continued unabated til today! But the reality is we are dependent on the US for trade and a symbolic St Patricks day shamrock event does not give the expression of support for US butchering and dreadful foreign policy! Kenny is a Right wing numpty anyway- hopefully he will tell Trump how poorly this policy is in Ireland – but I wouldn’t hold my breath!!
david what about truman’s bombing of hiroshima. Lincoln’s burning of Atlanta. should we break off diplomatic relations with the uk over dresden?
You’re right, open borders. Just lots of lefty trolls today
@ Patrick Gough – No we shouldn’t and that’s my point! Bomber Harris was a war Criminal, so was Tony Blair and Bush- there is a thing called Diplomacy – while using diplomacy we should also raise concerns about current situations – it is a balancing act- we cannot afford to be isolated, but we should also raise human rights concerns and also listen to human rights concerns others may have about us!! The USA and Britain have been plundering and killinf for hundreds of years (I’m English by birth)- but they are also huge trading partners of Ireland – doesn’t mean turning a blind eye but also doesn’t mean Ireland should isolate itself! !
Trump doesn’t care about Ireland or how we depend on trade with the US. We should stand for our principles he will use the shamrock presentation as a photo opportunity and proof that the world agrees with him. Teresa Mays grovelling over the weekend was nausea inducing is not something I want to see Ireland or our representatives taking part in.
@Mrs M: It is being applied in Shannon and Dublin
Enda’s hands are tied. He can’t risk isolating Ireland. Trump is attacking Ireland’s economy. He knows our business model.
Regarding this ban, wasn’t it United States in the first place who created all these problems and now Europe has to handle all the refugees. Unfair to Europe and also the refugees who are suffering due to US’s policies.
@Mick Power: MICK…definitely one of the best comments I have ever read…fair play to ya !
@Mick Power: Why are US Jewish groups and organisations lining up to condemn this latest move of Trump’s? Why are American Jews who survived the holocaust standing up now to be counted and calling Trump a fascist? Because he is.
@Mick Power: “Fighting extremism with illiberalism has dangerous consequences. Iraqis, now tarred as enemies of the US, will see Iran as a more natural ally. Syrian Christians, to pick but one vulnerable group, will now be more natural targets of anti-American sentiment. Isis has been handed a propaganda victory. Little Trumps in the developing world will take the lead from the US’s newfound indifference to basic fairness.”
https://www.ft.com/content/eebb5e0c-e635-11e6-967b-c88452263daf
Donkey
The taoiseach should go over..and point out to POTUS he is a decendant of German immigrants. He’s a forgetful buffoon. And thankfully in week one has shown his cards and is on a train crash to nowhere.
Tricia you better prepare to be shocked. Enda will make May seem like an armature.
It’s a poll – people can vote which ever way they wish
You’re username is ‘open borders’ and you have a picture of George Soros as your icon..
Good man Liam,I’m amazed that a Gorey man born and reared could become a wannabe muslim and then comment on “alt-right trolls”
Val you should google Liam Egan and make up your own mind…….
You are so right. I have always been proud, as an Irish born American citizen, to see the shAmrock presented. Not this year. It would be pandering to a right wing regime such as was seen in the 1930s in Europe. We, the Irish, must stand up for those experiencing now what our ancestors experienced. Let us not forget. If we do, we are denying those who forged the path throughout the world for us.
Are you serious?
Without immigrants he wouldn’t have had at least 2 of his wives
Yes, Peggy. I am serious.
I agree. I hope people understand that if Eire doesn’t agree to Trump’s visit, then all undocumented Irish will be returned from the U.S. The same goes for Britain.
Sorry Una…I didn’t understand that ?
Tell that to the 50000 undocumented irish living in the USA. …fool…
We supported him too
The green party? Are they still actually a thing in Ireland after their collusion with FF to break the country?
Within a few years Ireland will be isolated from mainland Europe more than it has for decades by Brexit, Ireland is in serious danger of becoming a forgotten outpost of the EU. So by all means, let us snub America, hack off their President and shoot ourselves in the head just to appease the Green Party.
@Brian McDonnell:
Exactly.
As others have pointed out – given all recent US Presidents have been involved in foreign wars, drone strikes, coups etc, its a bit hypocritical to suddenly decide this is a red line issue.
The value of the trip is not in meeting Trump – the real value lies with putting Ireland front and centre of US consciousness for a few days every March. I was over a few years ago – the trip receives blanket coverage on all US networks. It is extremely positive for the country. There are dozens of events held in all major cities. Some, like the American Ireland fund, raise huge sums for charity and are vital in keeping Ireland relevant and raising the country’s profile in a positive way.
There is no way Edna won’t go. It was the first thing he asked when he met him.
I object that Eamon Ryan wasn’t mentioned till the third paragraph. I had thought it was Aodhan for a short time. Either way I now need to lie down.
@John Bennett: In a functioning democracy everyone is free to disagree, and I do disagree with Trump in his blanket banning, especially as the US bares a huge level of responsibility in causing this refugee crisis. The trouble when you keep going left is you end up going round in circles, and even end up driving up your own backside. you have got to right at some stage to move forward, and of course the opposite is also true. Left, right, left, right…and so the march of politics goes on.
Kenny could dig John tierney back up and pay him another few million for his advice on the matter,it won’t be his decision anyway,he’s only allowed choose which comic to read on the way to the Dail each morning.
@Brian McDonnell: Ireland Should Present Trump with Shamrock ,only not by the Male Pro of Brussels Kenny,nor by Leo [Not really Irish ] ,nor by Simon [ Bilderberg,Ansbacher account holder] Coveney,send in Fitzer.I Fully Support the wishes of the American People by their Election of Trump as President. Time the Irish Took Control of their own Country,firstly by Arresting those who have Betrayed us.ie Gilmore,Kenny,Ahern,Coveney,Noonan and many more .These Terrorists have Deliberately Bankrupted Ireland,Paralysed our People and then Iniated a Full Blown Invasion of our Tiny Country.One day the Irish people will Awaken to these Traitors,who have Fed our Country to the Wolves.
@John Bennett: Vert good Comment.
For fraks sake will you learn when to capitalise and when not to capitalise, no one is gonna read that price of crap you just wrote , I gave up after the first line.
@Jay Coleman: Thanks for Reading my Comments,my plan is Working.
The plan to insert random capital letters into writing?
Hi Pat Stapleton – I love your use of capitals !!!!!
@Frank Conroy: Thanks Frank,you are so Kind.
Hi Pat. Could you elaborate on your comment that Leo Varadkar is “not really Irish”. Is it his skin tone you object to?
@Brinster: Racist card already Brinster ,jeez that was Quick.
@Pat Stapleton:
Yeah it tends to get played quick when someone makes an openly racist statement.
@Brinster: So saying not really Irish is a Racist Comment,since when.
Ha you think that trip puts Ireland front and centre in USA.youre stupider than I thought
@Brinster: There’s nothing normal about the election of a megalomaniacal manchild to power, even in a polity as flawed as the USA. Were previous presidents hypocrites, spouting platitudes while imposing tyranny and unleashing terror?- You bet, in fact that’s the norm, but even the worst of them still lived in the real world defined by facts and scientific evidence, unlike the Despicable-in-Chief! So nobody, Enda Kenny, should attempt to conduct business as usual while he sits in the Oval Office. Would it hurt Irish interests to take a moral stance and boycott Trump; I doubt it, despite all the guff about ‘profile’ etc.- give me one hard proof that the shamrock-and-smiles gig has ever been anything but an ego trip, literally, any other time. And even if it did have a measurable cost, so what- Trump’s words and actions recall the start of the 1930s, let’s not follow the moderate fools of that time who let the monsters carry on-no appeasement, not in our name!
@Pat Stapleton:Well said Pat, so many me feiners in Ireland they dont like hearing the truth.
@Pat Stapleton:
You’re the one who made the comment, Pat.
Twice now you’ve ducked explaining what it meant.
Care to go three times?
Why in your opinion is Leo Varadkar, born in this country to an Irish mother, “Not really Irish”?
Why is Leo not Irish?
@Jay Coleman.Price of crap?
Ciaran, “stupider” is not a word.
He hasn’t got the gonads.
Enda Kenny doesn’t make decisions for himself, so he will do as he is advised to do by those people who speak into his earpiece.
And his ego wouldn’t allow him not to be photographed with the Tango Terror.
@David Dickenson: Not a fan of Enda to put it mildly. But if it were to his benefit I’m sure he’d let Trump have it just like he let the church have it. What he lacks is integrity so he won’t do a damn thing.
@Tony Skillington very funny
My sentiments exactly. He wants his foto taken and god help us when he comes back and tells us what he said to Trump ” in no uncertain terms “
@Tony Kennedy: Yeah, I bet they’ll have a “robust dialogue” too..
@Louis. Let the church have it? You mean that speech he gave, words strung together when that’s what the people wanted to hear. No action what so ever
I’d call for enda kenny to cancel the trip on the grounds that he’s an embarassment to the country.
F**k Off Green Party
@Paul: I thought they already had and were preparing a place in the wilderness for the Labour Party. It seems I was wrong.
Oh yea the green party. The party that drove us off side of a cliff. I can assure you we need America more than they need us. You don’t always have to like the people you do business with but at the end of the day there money as good as anyone else’s.
The Green party are a national disgrace to this Country and Eamon Ryan should keep out of sight and keep his mouth shut.
@mickmc: The Greens? Are they still relevant?
@Alan Scott: Send Eamon Ryan and the other few dozen Green Party members to the Middle East to help the migrants at source.
Everyone’s a winner!
@Alan Scott: yea the green tea party,
Greens what an unpatriotic shower back up a beaten disgraced government to keep pensions perks ect
I don’t believe they have a valid trustworthy contribution to make.
Im paying over 1k in motor tax because of green party.
Think I’ll start a petition to stop Eamon Ryan getting so much airtime from his media buddies.
@Beachmaster: Eamon Ryan ,leader of the Green Party,who have about 5 members,who was elected on the 50 th Count last year,not even going to mention The Blanket Bailout.
Stop being so stupid. He has to go. It’s a practical reality as opposed to the snowflake utopia so many seem to conjure up in their delicate imagination.
David he does not HAVE to go but he will because he is spineless.
Would you advocate taking some perceived high moral ground position by snubbing The President of The United States with all of the possible consequences and outcomes such a move would produce?
@David Mac Shite: We’d be heroes. 60% of Americans despise Trump.
The people who have voiced their opinion here do they realise the amount of jobs both here and elsewhere that Irish people depend on ? If Enda is advised not to go what will happen someone else will get the slot and the Irish Government will be locked out for a long time. He has to go . Some here cannot see beyond their own nose.
There’s always some clown who brings up money,we shouldn’t do anything at all,ever,if it remotely might harm money.
@OpenBorders: Can see past their nose?
Exactly Louise Jacob.
Good to see Louise doesn’t pander to the patriarchy by shaving her facial hair. Lol!
OpenBorders?
@David Mac Shite: If he doesn’t go the same loons will be giving him abuse for not doing enough for the Irish illegals, for not creating jobs and investment etc.
Who cares if the US puts a temporary ban on some predominantly Muslim countries. Not worth screwing ourselves over.
@David Mac Shite: Enda should change it up by giving the president this photograph, blown-up and framed:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2774/4193616854_26c1dd7dcb_b.jpg
[Lunch atop a skyscraper - The Irish immigrants that helped built New York]
It’s Louis not louise you clown as you’re so fond of calling people
alan. The people against kenny going don’t care about jobs. They want high unemployment here so dissatisfied unemployed people vote left.
Sean. those loons want to destroy the economy.
Exactly likes of the guys only got seats given our choices ,that n sure the economy was already destroyed
900 people?
LOL!
More people signed the petition to have spiciness labels on food products.
It was only posted 30 minutes ago you clown.
Yeah, it’s at an amazing 1,169 right now.
1,240 now, and I see intelligent and thoughtful comments there.
subtext:
opinions that correspond with mine.
@Openborders I must commend you on the honesty of your profile: “Cultural Marxist” You would grind every ounce of value out of the human spirit for some sick utopia (which would quickly self implode) Sounds great.
Virtual Architect,if you read Marx instead of angry spotty teenagers blogs you might broaden your horizons and step out of your echo chamber.
Yes that would really stop trump in his tracks. And it would do untold damage to america. They need that bowl of shamrock far more than we need their business. Far more.
Talk about completely missing the point.
Wat exactly is the point ? Absolutely no body outside of ireland would notice. NO ONE
Of course they would,Ireland has a special position when it comes to the annual visit to the White House,what a stupid comment.
Why do you think US Presidents visit officially? It isn’t to get votes here. American voters will note what happens this year. 34.4 million of them are Irish Americans. A lot of them voted for him. They’ll notice more than we realise.
Enda Kenny doesn’t have the Balls to stand up to anyone who’s over 5′.7″ in height, never mind tRump!
Irish politicians do not have the track record to take a moral high ground while abroad. While I have absolutely no time for Kenny or his cabinet members (incl Shane Ross, who once again proves that the chief preoccupation of a TD and minister is political self-preservation), until the Irish public stops either taking election candidates at face value, or drops the ‘shrugs shoulders “What can we do” after doing effectively sweet F.A.’, then this kind of politician will continue regarding the public as mugs who’ll never peacfull force a change of political behaviour.
david. Most politicans work towards reelection. 2 exceptions. The sdlp committed political suicide by bringing sf in from the cold for the sake of peace. 2 our labour party destroyed itself on the last government for the betterment of the economy. Both paid the price
@Patrick Gough: “The labour party destroyed itself for the betterment of the economy”. Really Pat? What about all the people who voted for them only for lab to go back on their promises? They betrayed everyone who voted for them just so they could get into power with the blueshirts. Yes thank god they are now destroyed and hopefully never get into power again. As for the SDLP I think its fair play to them for engaging with sf as who knows where we would be now if there had been no good Friday agreement.I dont go along with your assertion they have been committed political suicide.
More BS virtue signalling from the usual suspects.
As if Trump or anyone else in the US will give a flying f*** if Enda doesn’t go over with his bowl of shamrock.
Exactly. They’re doing us a favour by letting us promote Ireland in the US. They obviously get an advantage from it too but not as much as us
Is Enda representative of the Muslim community or the Irish community?, given that he is our Taoiseach representative of Ireland and that St Patrick’s day is synonymous with the Irish I don’t see how he has a choice!
Little Irelander attitude.
@Kate Flaherty: The whole world is appalled and protesting against this latest move by Trump, so why should we not do the same? It is morality over money.
Like I already said, I couldn’t care less about this affecting mo farah, the greater good is all that matters, Donald trump is president of the USA and his main priority is to protect people born and raised in the USA, so your argument is lets let mo farah back in immediately at the risk of letting terrorists in with him, all this “the international community is outraged” is nonsense, I love trumps no bulls**t attitude so far
Kenny has a tongue as long as a Lizards & by hook or crook he’ll lick his way to the White House for St. Patricks day.
He should go and prove to the world once again that our politicians are prepared to roll over for anyone anytime anywhere as long as their pensions are safe
Well I’d say take the moral high ground but weigh up. Brexit is coming and so is uncertain times. Do you risk upsetting biggest investor or lick arse as they all do to get to top? If enda was to refuse it might be hight of stupid triggering bad relations effecting businesses here and your income. Or… he could be the hero of the liberal Democrats and republicans and be hailed as a hero and in 3.9 years get hailed as one of the greats.
I don’t usually agree with the Greens, but on this issue; they’re right…
You’re usually right not to agree with the greens.
Did Kenny raise any objections last St Patrick’s year to what Obama was doing in Syria ….Sending tens of millions of dollars of weapons to Sunni Jahadi …Helping to create the refugees situation that Europe has to cope with…..Green party were silent on that also…
Who is Eamon Ryan is he the man who stood by an let F/F ruin the country some joke of a man, back for another big takings from the tax payer.
Why are there so many Syrian refugees in the first place?
Because of US (and others) backed regime change policies – under Obama and Clinton.
How wrong is it to do what they did and then not take responsibility for the refugees that they created?
What I find hard to understand though is why so many “liberals” werent outraged by the Obama/Clinton regime change policies that caused at least the Syria and Lybia crises and all these refugees in the first place.
Greens are never right, extremist ideologies without common sense or balance….
@Peter Higgins: Ireland is sending home non-EU citizens for generations, even in Ryan’s time in government
@HelloGoogleTracking!: Yeah, that’s right – those who point out the inconvenient truth that we are polluting our planet to the extent that it will soon not be able to support human life – small stuff like that.
Case in point….extremist, no serious scientist says that.
Also carbon dioxide is not a pollutant…it is fertiliser the opposite of a pollutant.
We are a carbon based life form, we combine carbon with oxygen to produce energy… and breath out CO2.
Plants break it down again, using the carbon the build themselves and expel oxygen.
Anyone calling CO2 pollution is an extremist idit
The Green don’t want Enda to visit the President on Green day where he gives him a bowel of Green stuff what’s the problem
I’d say Trump is worried over Flanagans opinion
Will liberals try to get over the fact the Clinton lost.. this is all getting very boring..
Why would enda Kenny not travel to USA as normal, Donald trump is spot on, ban all these people from countries with terrorist threat, tough nuggets if u are an innocent party from one of these terrorist countries, sort your own country out, each countries priority has to be its own people first, every European country should have closed borders as well
@Hugo Bugo: He has banned entry from people from countries where no terrorist that has damaged the US has ever originated – he’s left out countries like Saudi Arabia (where 9/11 terrorists supposed to have come from) because he has business interests.
The kind of people this will affect include people like Mo Farah, who has a joint UK / Somalia nationality and currently lives in the US with his family – he will now not be able to go there to re-join his family.
It is widely condemned as being fundamentally against human rights – no US president, no matter how conservative, has ever done anything like this.
@Little Diddy No: read the news ,he is not barred
The green party are such incredible hypocrites. They stood for election on the platform of opposing US Military in Shannon Airport and they did an about turn when government positions were offered. Now they’re whining about some country actually doing something to prevent Berlin massacre happening all over again. Have we forgotten that? Give me a break.
virtual You have to shite in ireland to get elected. look at sf the greens aaa/pbp ff fg et all. luckily they don’t implement the shite talk.
You should at least try and make some kind of effort to report correctly. You say: “..Trump signed an executive order barring all refugees..” no he did not. It included people from 7 different countries, not all. Very poor attempt at journalism.
leo varadkar (a blueshirt) wants to go
@patient pNibbler:
A neo liberalist Thatcherite who gets a soft ride from Irish media because he’s gay.
A dangerous man.
Please desist from making snide homophobic remarks. You lost the Referendum,move on.
OpenBorders doesn’t understand what homphobic means………..
@James Guinan:
He believes in the Alternative interpretation.
@Alex Falcone A blue tie would be nice with his Blue shirt lol
Of all the people who know what the people want the D4 greens can go and shite.
the greens, C Flanagan a man who gives our hard earned tax payers money to corrupt governments in africia. who gave an extra 31 million to uganda last autumn, then we have the greens who want use to live in caves, and cycle to work and taxed our cars off the roads, Irish governments didn’t have a problem going over to Bush Jr and Sr who caused the middle east mess that we see now, we had Regan who nearly caused a 3rd world war in eighties then the Kennedys who slept with anything with a skirt! We need america more than the need us, they are protecting their borders, when brexit kicks in wait see when our borders are left open we will have major problem we have seen nothing yet!
America will make its own decisions.
I know the langauge of diplomacy isn’t as frank as normal discourse but that’s an awfully weak statement from Charlie Flanagan.
The Green Party. Hmmm, that’s the crowd who managed to tax air. Costs the people a fortune going to and from work , heating your home and cooking your meals. Oh by the way they were also one of the parties in charge when the country was bankrupted. No thanks for any of your advice on this matter.
@Thomas Roche: Who brought in the Warmer Homes scheme that means if you are a low income home owner you can get your home insulate entirely for free. Still going.
@Thomas Roche: Presumably you agree that our government actually uses your taxes to provide huge subsidies to fossil fuels – polluting our children’s air and putting their future on this planet at risk.
^^^ One of Ireland’s few remaining Green Party members, no doubt.
Lmfao what a pack of moans ! Why didn’t they ban Obama back in 2011 when imposed the same sanctions on Iraq? Blind leading the blind in this country narrow minded individuals that of we don’t agree with your point of view then we should suffer the consequences? Grow up and let america do what it wants to do and let ireland focus on our own major problems that needed sorting 10 years ago
@Luke Adam Cassidy: Yes and Carter deported Iranian students after the Islamic revolution
These paddys day trips (for the lads) at the taxpayers expense should have been stopped decades ago. Doubt that will stop now, the hypocrisy of enda (after being critical of trump prior to his election) seeing trump. What a farse, gotta love democracy.
Edna will be cross this am with this poll. He’s a little dictator himself and doesn’t listen to his people.
What the problem is? We don’t want refugees here as much as they don’t want em. We should be celebrating this.
@Pat Doran: Yeah, let’s celebrate somebody the whole world is calling a fascist dictator, who has dismantled fundamental human rights that no other US president has ever done, and who even has conservative Republicans up in arms. No solidarity with our friends in the US who have to live under this fascist regime – one where he is attempting to gag and silence dissent from any quarter, ban the media – just like tinpot dictatorships.
@Little Diddy No: Pure lefty bull when you dissagee with a lefty your facist. he is protecting his country, wait till be brexit comes along our country will be swamped heading to the border, and the fault the lefty liberals. i bet diddy you cycle to work!
I hope kenny goes, grows a set of balls and gets tips from president Trump about how to put your country and its people first. Worry about Irish people first and let the rich Muslim countries take in the refugees. No churches in Islamic countries so there shouldn’t be any mosques allowed on Christian land it’s not that difficult to understand.
@The Gambler: You see, Irish people have suffered oppression and prejudice, so we don’t like nasty fascists. Ireland is not Christian – we are a secular republic. American citizens are mostly all immigrants themselves – it is only native Americans who have a moral right to that land.
Eamon Ryan is an absolute muppet , that clown goes to Cairo to get that Muslim brotherhood guy released and now this , what a plonker
If the first word of the headline read Greens I would not have wasted my time reading the rest.
Enda should just go full stop never tread government buildings again .. leech
Let them live beside eamon ryan in his swanky gaff in rathgar
If Trump banned Irish citizens from entering the US there may be an argument to be made that Enda should consider cancelling his trip although it would solve absolutely nothing. Is their a reasonable argument as to why he should cancel this trip? How would that serve Ireland or Irish people or anybody at all?
@James Reid: Enda is an lying lick arse muppet , thats a reasonable argument why this trip should be cancelled eh James?
Why didn’t we have this conversation when shamrock was being presented to war criminals like Bush and Obama?
Why does the article call it a ban on refugees? It’s much more than that. Legal residents, people with green cards, are being denied entry too. People flying between two other countries, who just happen to be changing planes in the US, are being denied. Is Mo Farrah a refugee? Is British Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi a refugee?
@John Carberry: Tashfin Malik, one of the two San Bernadino shooters, came in on a so-called “fiancé visa”/
Not everyone that calls America home is a terrorist you know..
@Rosa Parks: Which of the targeted countries did she come from? That’s right, none.
@John Carberry: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should absolutely be added to the list.
@Rosa Parks: Ridiculous. Terrorism by Muslims makes up one third of one per cent of all the murders in the US. Statistically US citizens are many times more likely to get shot by a toddler in a freak gun accident. Annual figures: No. of Americans killed annually by
Islamic Jihadist immigrants:2
Far right wing terrorists: 5
Armed toddlers: 21
Lightning: 31
Lawnmowers: 69
Hit by a bus: 264
Falling out of bed: 737
Shot by another American: 11,737
Get a grip people!
Hopefully he’ll have been taught how to shake hands and sit in the correct seat by then..although at this stage he’s probably odds on to do something embarrassing…
He’ll go over to get his little pat on the head regardless. Good boy Enda, tool
Samantha Power now on RTE ….Most difficult question see got was one Jahadi group US supported beheaded a teenager….She said the groups US supported were all good…. Without contradiction she said all the US did for Saudi Arabia in Yemen war was help with intelligence….Where did Saudi get their cluster bombs from…..RTE are still madly in love with Obama
Brought to you from the politicians that send Irish women abroad for abortions.
We need to stop allowing tiny leftwing parties act as our conscience. I support President Trumps decision.
It has now been revealed that the 7 countries in the executive order were from an Obama admin list of the worst state sponsors of terrorism.
https://mic.com/articles/166845/the-…on#.2RGqJztfhE
“…According to the draft copy of Trump’s executive order, the countries whose citizens are barred entirely from entering the United States is based on a bill that Obama signed into law in December 2015.
…
foreigners who would normally be deemed eligible for a visa waiver were denied if they had visited Iran, Syria, Sudan or Iraq in the past five years or held dual citizenship from one of those countries.
…
In February 2016, the Obama administration added Libya, Somali and Yemen to the list of countries one could not have visited
…
So, in a nutshell, Obama restricted visa waivers for those seven Muslim-majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen — and now, Trump is looking to bar immigration and visitors from the same list of countries.”
@Rosa Parks: Rubbish. No terrorist who has hurt Americans has come from those countries. 9/11 terrorists linked to Saudi – Trump has not included Saudi as he has business interests with them.
What Trump is doing is of an entirely different order than anything that has been done in the US before – that’s why even conservative Republicans are against him now.
Anybody supporting this would have to be pretty far to the right.
Why wouldnt he go. America have taken control of their borders. So what. Are England not doing the same. 1 is keeping out terrorists, the other dole cheats. Only difference is England are being a bit more PC about it. Everyone is saying not to distance ourselves from the brits. Why do it with the yanks??
Yes, Enda shouldn’t go because I can’t stomach the sight of this Mayo moron giving a Waterford Glass bowl of shamrocks to the POTUS no more since becoming Taoiseach in 2011.
Very surprised at Eamon Ryan for not whining to Journal.ie straightaway on sectioning the comments here like he did on the previous Ibrahim Halawa article weeks ago. Total & utter hypocrite – he should get pally with IndaKinny as they have a lot in common before these eejits both realise…
Enda Kenny will fly over to Washington on St Patrick’s Day as normal and crawl all over the Donald. Might even hold his hand for longer..
Have always thought that the government should remain in Ireland for St Patrick’s day anyway. Entertain foreign dignitaries here and invite them here.
President Trump won the election.
@hallelujah: Lost popular vote by 3 million. Their system is messed up.
@Little Diddy No: How many votes did the Green party get? Or Paul Murphy. SFA is the answer.
Well, I think Inda should go. I think what Trump is doing is wrong. Not that he wants to strenghten America’s border but the simply the way he is doing it. It’s not as if Trump would take much notice of a protest from a tiny, powerless country that has based most of its economy on pulling in US companies and facilitating pretty much near a tax scam ( mind you a legal one, by all accounts ) for these same companies.
Kenny might as well go and see if he can salvage something from the shi.storm heading our way, forlorn hope that may be, with Kenny doing the talking and Trump not doing the listening.
If Ireland’s establishment wants to protest, do it through diplomatic channels and hope that Trump isn’t a sensitive mood, otherwise Ireland will be bombed out existence by late night Trumpisms on Twitter.
Yeah, being practical then I should think snubbing Trump might not be the best move. Enda should send one of his lieutenants. He should also send Zappone, maybe she will lunge at trump and the secret service will take care of her.
What a load of bull poo. Enda isn’t going over to personally give Trump a bowl of shamrocks, he is giving the people of America a gift. You would not only be snubbing Trump you would be snubbing America itself.
Enda’s going for sure.
Well sf are accepted over there and look at there history
He does not represent me and over 70% of Irish citizens so I couldn’t give a toss where the turnip headed gombeen goes. But wherever it is I hope he stays there and takes his lackies with him.
Why were my calls to end the wind farm, cash for ash scam never reported on the Journal.ie?
We’ve dealt with worse lads than Trump.
@Tom: Yes. Weve had Chinese leaders here despite Tianenman.
He absolutely should cancel it. Bad enough our minister for finance stood waiting like a bold school boy on the tarmac for this guy.
Are People stupid? It won’t affect us!!
@Maire: But the Irish government want their annual Paddy Days week holiday in other countries paid by the tax payer?
Enda should go. He is blond. Enda should wear a red dress, wash his hand and have a good manicure.
Enda will need to adopt a submissive pose, not difficult for Enda, and express plenty of flannel for Trump and his policies.
Ireland always has an eye on the main chance and we don’t have a sense of real courageous self regard. We like to play up to our betters. It’s in our nature. We should be true to the nation of Uriah Heaps, that we are.
Forget about dignity. Suck up to Trump. Entertain Trump.
@Tony Daly: i would hope any taoiseach of this country wouldn’t play schoolyard snubbing games, and would go talk to Trump when the opportunity arises.
What better way to achieve our own goals than with building a relationship and having open communication.
Do you actually think sulking in a corner and playing silly beggers is more dignified than opening up communication? Give over.
@Tony Daly: Mr Trump won the recent election. He is the President. Give him a chance. He won the election. Ms May of the UK did’nt win anything.
@hallelujah: Lost popular vote by 3 million. Whole world outraged by this new fascist regime – as it was wrong to appease Hitler, it is wrong to appease Trump and the sinister people he now has around him as his puppet masters – even more important with the US as they hold such power in the world. An unstable person like Trump could get us all annihilated.
@Little Diddy No: Obama was on the verge of starting a world war against Russia , Clinton is a war monger who is really a sinister lier so count yourself lucky you might not be ashes for a least another 4 years that there is a strong man like president Trump steering the ship.
the green party should stick to what they are good at,tree hugging
That slidder will crawl up that mental b;;:(:d s trumps Ass he’s not a man
Left wing taking over the world want anything for free . We need America to live
@Aidan O connor: That’s how they control us all, we’ve sold our souls and are controlled by the devil.
no.
Absolutely not. Enda needs to do what Irish Taoisigh have to do, namely make pleas on behalf of those who are breaking the law in the USA just because they are Irish. Just tell that to the poor ******s who Irish Immigration are deporting in the morning for doing the same.
Either way Kenny will make no impact. He is banal and mediocre at the best of times.
What will he do with the shamrock?
He hasn’t the backbone to cancel it !!!
@Alice Malone: nor should he.
Saint Pat trips for government ministers should never have be allowed it been free jaunts on taxpayers money .Howlin was also found of free trips. Adams the hypocrite has been to the White House several times when they let him but did he ever complain or mention the invasions of the muslim countries that caused the refugee crisis to Obama, Clinton or Bush.
Trump hopefully can put an end to the wars and then all the refugees can go back home and live happily ever after.
He shook up the world #trump
@wiggy: An unstable fascist buffoon – come on!
Enda has zero cahones, I’d be flabbergasted if he doesn’t go.
Yes he should still go. We have and will continue to have a close relationship with the United States, regardless of who is sitting in the Oval Office.
The latest executive order has nothing to do with Ireland.
If anything, our government should seek to reaffirm and even further strengthen our relationship with the US.
changes to the US Immigration system was only a matter of time, Trump is not wasting any time putting them in to action.
Over 40 years Enda has lived like a leech off everybody else efforts. Enda a failed School teacher like Noonan, Howlin and Martin. Enda wont turn down an all expenses paid free trips to any part of the world. Enda takes his council not off the IRISH people whom elected him who he called at Davos. “What happened in our country is that people simply went mad with borrowing.” He is europes village idiot and a poodle of Merkel’s misery crusade of austerity and migration. When trump is well aware he called Trump racist and dangerous remarks will be commented by. By all accounts that if Trumps makes an enemy in business your screwed. Enda’s trip to the White House may be the last by any Irish leader for a while going forward.
poll says more about journal readers than about kenny’s visit.
How ridiculous Howlin of Labour tax talking about Irish values. He wouldn’t know Irish values they certainly are not pro abortion like him. This is a case of an elected official doing what he said he would do. Contrary to Irish politicians values, right!
I wish Ireland had someone in charge that would have the balls to stop taking Refugees along with doing more to benefit the economy for that matter. Trump is a businessman and he knows how to steer a ship (as much as people don’t like him) he will do the best for their economy and he’s putting the gears into motion.
He will get us into a recession. Signs already showing that’s where we are going.
And call all American troops back to the US.
Anti-Austerity Alliance, Ruth Coppinger need to educate herself little bit more. Banning muslims can not be racist as islam is not a race. It is just a cult/faith whatever but not race.
I would be always against people who would want to dictate me what to eat, drink or dress on. Greatest irony of it all is that she as a woman is fighting for the rights of people who regard woman as a second class with barely any rights to speak of.
We should put s ban on republicans coming to Europe
@lez ferguson: Thanks a bit hard on SF they were elected.
Enda could go but leave the shamrocks. Its a move with simple nuance that would be picked up on by the press immediately. Ireland has issued a bowl of shamrocks to every new president to remind rhem.kf the far reaching history between the nations. By not offering it and showi g up all business they can discuss what needs to be discussed like “businessmen” with an unfreindly undertow. Its the equivalent of pulling your hand away last minute before a handshake and brushing your hair back instead.
(possibly ) the most frustrating thing is that decades of U.S. and superpower imperialism is in fact responsible for so much chaos. Isis’ creation can actually be traced back to the invasion by Russia in Afghanistan and the Mujahideen but following further unsupported invasions in sovereign states in the middle east and the election of Trump we seem to find ourselves at a crossroads in the west with all of this. I don’t support a specific ban.from the aforementioned countries but equally I don’t support the west in bed with the evil Saudi Arabia or even Turkey the way it’s going under Erdogan. One thing’s for sure right now ,ironically USA should already be taking all these current migrants because they are already so responsible under Clinton Bush Obama and now under Trump.oh yeah and that’s how much we should care about Kenny over in the states – some perspective.
If Enda cancelled the trip Trump would just say he cancelled the visit because he was too busy for ceremonial events when the American people are under such a serious threat of terrorist violence or some such bullshite, as he did when the Mexican president refused to meet him.
Why does America get the privelige of he Irish head of state on our day, there are Irish men and women all over the world….maybe this year go to Australia or Canada or anywhere else but he US
It used to be said that in America anyone could grow up to be President. Now it seems you don’t have to grow up! In terms of our political relationship with the US we have always been too uncritical. However Trump brings everything (down) to a new level. In solidarity with decent people everywhere we should have nothing to do with this odious man.
Flanagan Translation- He is going, that’s it and get over it.
In the real world the Taoiseach will go ahead and meet president Trump as scheduled.
Don’t worry.They probably never heard of him.
@Gus Dennis: Get a number 9 golf club stuck in his nut?
Cancel the visit. Isolate this guy and for God’s sake grow a pair
@Peggy Webster: You are absolutely right. Cancelling that visit will save us quite a lot of money we can use to repay debt we were saddled with and by isolating Enda we are on a good path to a long overdue change. Lets grow a pair finally.
The shamrock thing is a joke, the US won’t allow live plants like shamrock into the US therefore it is shamrock grown in the US and after it is presented to the president it is then burned…
It be a brave man to snub Trump as what he could do then as a reaction? Make a fool out of Trump and he could do anything them???
“According to a report on CNN recently, the dear little shamrocks go straight to the crusher.
That is as in the wood chipper, exterminator, shredder or whatever torture implement the White House uses.
Uhuh. That little bowl of shamrock, the “enduring symbol” of the relationship between Ireland and the US, is destroyed after making the long trip from Ireland.
Chewed up, spit out, never existed.
What shamrock?
Gone, no sign, same as in no US Ambassador to Ireland currently.
CNN says White House security protocol dictates that any “food, drink or plant presented to the president be ‘handled pursuant to Secret Service policy’.”
As CNN points out that’s “Secret Service-speak for destroyed.”
How cruel. Call it what it is – the Massacre of the Shamrocks.”
Endas got his suitcase packed for St. Patrick’s Day since the Trump was president elect ready to go and meet the big man and oh I nearly forgot the bowl of shamrock is packed too nothing will STOP him now
Ah Shure, isn’t Mr Trump just a passing democratic miscue, so why interrupt a long tradition of kissing ass on St.Pats day, & most other days. Shure doesn’t it all look great on the telly, & fills a few news slots & column inches.
Never mind that US vultures have us by the shorts & curlies compliments of NAMA, & that we have growing homeless numbers, a failed HSE, an avaricious public service ,whilst the shamrock contingent live it up in the USA for a few days.
Shure maybe we might even sign up to be the next state of the Union, so that their military can continue to invade hitherto exploited states who dare to stand up for themselves.
Shure hasn’t the stars’n stripes replaced the starry plough over Dublin already.
The leadership of this fictitional republic is a joke, let me out of here.
send his special envoy Vincent Brown
@Emer Caffrey: And Panti?
This petition is far more popular https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/shamrock-not-in-my-name
Kenny should not cancel his trip to Us .. We need to learn to mind our own business.
Very true. It’s not our business I totally agree with you. After all nobody gives a shi-t about Ireland. We mind our own business and bother nobody.
These junkets should have been scraped years ago, trips away for the boys at the taxpayers expense. Nonsense and actually embarrassing in most cases, shamrock in the white house being a prime example.
Cancel. Grow a pair
Finally the left can fully project their insecurities on one bad man. Trump is a gift to the left. Please forget that both Obama and Clinton banned people from these same countries in the past and not a squeak was heard from the precious snowflakes.
It may hurt your feelings but Enda is not that important issue here. Question is not what happen if Enda cancel his visit, it is him going there to bow down. Question is what will happen if Trump cancel Intel, facebook, paypal and many others from Ireland as he is planning to do. It is only a matter a time and it is running out.
Please do not come unless Trump* rescinds Executive Order.
Won’t happen, they’ve nae baz, end of…
When have Muslims ever marched or protested for the Irish. Get a grip people we’re living in 2017 someone needs to take a stand against radical Islam. But yet you have the same people screaming when there’s an attack and protesting when there’s not. This world is truly a f___ed up place.Ireland needs to think about the undocumented first let the rest look after themselves.
We should send one of our Muslims citizens to represent Ireland on saint patricks day..
Of course he wont cancel, its his annual taxpayer-funded jaunt, with all the attendant photo opportunities, – and anyway whoever heard of Enda taking a stand on a matter of principle.?
This article keeps marking itself as unread. It’s annoying.
Number of US citizens killed by citizens of countries on Trump’s list: 0
Number killed by Saudi and Egyptian citizens (Trump business locations): 2,531
Trump should add another few countries to that no fly list we in
The west have had enough of Islam
And their followers moderates or not it’s that dangerous you can’t work on a one to one basis so ban
Them all
enda dont for get your skipping rope you might need to play
don’t forget your 80s tips book
As far as I know that was already canceled
have your say