Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 11.30pm
- With reporting from Christina Finn in Washington D.C.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in the White House.
As the pair shook hands and posed for photographs following a private meeting, Trump confirmed to reporters that he intends to visit Ireland.
“I really love Ireland, I’ll be there absolutely,” Trump said in response to a question.
Kenny later confirmed that Trump agreed to come to Ireland after he extended an invite to the US President.
“We had a good, friendly and constructive engagement,” Kenny told reporters in the White House lawn after the photocall.
“The president also referred to hospitality and is very well acquainted with the golf courses of Ireland.”
And finally, I said in Ireland invitations are always returned and returned in kind. And so during the course of his presidency of the United States I’ve asked him to come to Ireland and he hopes to do that some time during the course of his presidency.
During the Oval Office photocall, a number of other reporters then attempted to ask questions of the pair but a White House staffer attempted to end the interaction by repeating the phrase: “Thank you press”.
One Irish reporter then asked whether Kenny’s previous comments about Trump’s language being “racist and dangerous” was raised during their meeting.
There was no response to the query.
Briefing reporters about their meeting, Kenny said the pair discussed a range of issues including Brexit, the Irish economy and immigration.
“The president asked a number of questions about what the hard border meant in the past and I pointed out to him about customs posts and the sectarian violence that came with it,” Kenny said.
“I also spoke to him about the difficulties Brexit would have for Ireland and for Northern Ireland and I pointed out the economic indicators that show we’d be the most adversely affected.”
President Trump asked quite a number of questions about the Irish economy, the drop in unemployment the rise in employment, the improvement in our growth rates. He was very complementary to the people of Ireland for having had the courage to make those decisions and make the many sacrifices they have made over the past number of years.
Undocumented
“I also spoke to him about immigration, and it’s important to make particular note of this here, of the fact that the president is interested in this and we had a very beneficial, constructive discussion about this,” Kenny said.
For those who are undocumented, among them many millions who are in America who are undocumented . The president was actually surprised at the figure, I think he might have thought it would be a higher figure.I would say to Irish people who are undocumented, that if there are small issues like parking fines or traffic lights or whatever, they should clear those up through legal people whether they be in any city. And that’s an issue which can lift the fear, concern and anxiety that any Irish people may have.
Kenny also said that he told Trump that Ireland would always be a “friend of America”.
Ireland will always be a friend of America, the European Union will always be a friend of America and that cooperation between these two most developed economic regions of the planet will be for the mutual benefit of millions of people in Europe and the United States.
At another gathering following the meeting, Trump then recited what he said was a proverb.
“As we stand together with our Irish friends, I’m reminded of that proverb and this is one I like, this is a good one, this is one I’ve heard for many years and I love it,” he said.
Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue, but never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.
“We know that, politically speaking we know that,” Trump added.
Shamrock Ceremony
Later this evening, the pair met in the White House for the traditional exchange of a bowl of shamrock.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny he wanted to sincerely thank President Trump “for so graciously continuing this great tradition of hospitality which means so much to us all”.
I am proud to have the opportunity to contribute to maintaining and developing relations between Ireland and the United States, particularly at the beginning of a new era in our relationship following your election, Mr. President.
Let me congratulate you and wish you the very best as you begin your term of office. The job is exceptionally demanding and difficult. The United States remains the most influential, as well as, the most powerful country in the world. You hold the hopes and future of America, and indeed the world, in your hands.
I want to thank the President for giving so much of his time to this visit. We had an excellent meeting this morning in the Oval Office where we discussed a variety of important issues of mutual concern. I want to assure you of our commitment to working closely with you and your administration as you face the many challenges ahead.
Trump told the East Room of the White House that America is “an always loyal friend” to Ireland.
The US president said the Irish people have enriched America in inexplicable ways and they always will.
Referring to Ireland as America’s “faithful partner” and “loyal friend” he said the US “will always be there for you”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
‘needless’ IFA blockades’, like they would be getting an increase without the blockades, protests work folks.
@Rodger 6: read the article the price increase was known about from Tuesday
@Tony Lyons: knowing and doing something about it are two different things
@J: that doesn’t make any sense. They knew about the price increase since Tuesday, so what’s the point of protesting asking for a price increase on Friday? They already got the increase. All this blockade does is hurt the consumer.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: hmmm let me see, big business or the little man, which one is more likely to tell the truth.
@Karl Charlie: I guess you will be stopping eating beef so.
@Karl Charlie: lidl, aldi, Tesco are all squeezing the factories who are in turn squeezing the already squeezed farmer. Eat all the british beef you want. They will do the same to the farmer there then.
This is about paying someone a fair price. Rural communities rely on farming directly or indirectly. If money was to be made in something else they would do it. All Larry and ABP want to do is run them out of business so they can control the market. They dont care entire communities of people who are custodians of the environment are forced to emigrate, move into the city or go on the dole.
@Rodger 6: they were, it’s been on the cards since at least last week. Irish Farmers Journal already had a story about it.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: they got no price, they could turn around and say 1 cent..
@OnlyHereForTheComments: because, more often than not, these ‘promises’ are little more than rhetoric in reality.
@Karl Charlie: they will mourn the loss of your custom, but celebrate the fact that you are spreading the word of their protest.
@Karl Charlie: you obviously know nothing about farming. Enjoy your British beef.
@Ollie O’Cleirigh: Money can be made in a lot if other ways but farmers expect everyone else to pay for their loss making businesses because “my family have been farming here for generations” or some other ‘aul rubbish.
As for your “custodians of the environment” description, more like destroyers of the environment. The worst polluters,
@OnlyHereForTheComments: they haven’t gotten an increase and the factories have not indicated how much they intend to give. They will only be quoting on Mondays cattle Perhaps we should be asking that if they can give increases now then where was this money going up to now if not to the farmers. Pure profiteering
@Karl Charlie: seize every vehicle for what ?? They’re on private property. I’d imagine you could dip away for diesel and you’d probably find diesel too. They’re allowed run green in tractors and I’d say the jeeps will be legal too
@Rodger 6: let’s all protest on behalf of the homeless then if so
@Karl Charlie: here here
@Karl Charlie: they’re not likely to have white diesel in tractors.
@Tony Lyons: Don’t believe all you read Tony. ABP is Larry Goodman after all, that lad would burst into flames if he told the truth.
@Eamonn O Connell: for off road tractors and farm equipment yes they can use green diesel but they cant use green diesel if they plan driving on public roads its illegal, plus they are not on private property… They were on the road OUTSIDE the entrance and exit to the distribution centre blocking access in and out so they should be siezed for impeding traffic
@Tony Lyons: read the article, the 5% offered was derisory and an insult to farmers. Pay a fair price and let everyone make a living.
@Karl Charlie: they can use green diesel in conjunction with their business. And the protests are unfortunately part of their business now until the factories and supermarkets decide to play fair and pay the proper price.
@Karl Charlie: you are allowed to run farm tractors on green diesel regardless of what you are doing. The UK and most of Europe have different rules regarding this but in Ireland green is grand.
They were also on an access road not a public road.
@Karl Charlie: afraid you’re wrong again Tractors and off road vehicles can be used ion the public road on green diesel too. And while the blockade is outside the gate it’s on the private curtalage of the distribution centre. Not on the actual public road therefore it’s not a matter where the guards can take action
@Rodger 6: you think 5 cent/kg will cut it? It is an insult protests will continue
@Tony Lyons: wow 5 cent the kilo. Larry is going broke.
@Dave Deering: i suppose they used a transportation device to get the tractors from their farms to the distribution centre avoiding any public roads where it is illegal for them to drive on using green diesel, as green diesel is for NON-ROAD going machinery and equipment dont believe me? Check out the govt website for dept of comms climate action and environment.
@Eamonn O Connell: yes on public roads travelling from one of their fields to another not driving up and down the country stopping innocent working people getting paid this close to christmas because they can’t get to work beef farmers are a disgrace
@Karl Charlie: green diesel is for agricultural machinery and all non road going machinery such as generators, cement mixers etc with a few exemptions eg. Cranes , cherrypickers. As the law stands in Ireland it is legal to drive a tractor on a public road using green diesel.
@Karl Charlie: still wrong. Of course they can be used on the the public road How else do they get from field to field or deliver crops to factories. Bring a can of white with them and drain the green out before leaving the field ??
@Rodger 6: You misread the article. The €80 refers to gap in price. It is not the entire beast price.
+ 5 cent per kilo (1.5%) well Zippidy doo dah
Honestly it’s shameful farmers raises an animal for maybe 9 – 12 months, pay vet fees, shots, feed etc will only get €80 for their efforts per animal (20c/kg).
That simply can’t be profitable, while the meat processors handle the meat for maybe 3 days, & likely take several times 20c/kg while then it sits on a shop fridge for another 3 days & the shop making €2+. Selling it from anywhere from €4 to €6.67/kg.
Yes, customer wants meat within a reasonable price but it clearly looks like shops, mostly the big chains pressure processors & packagers for lower prices which in turn rolls back on the farmers being paid a measly 20c/kg.
Do shops & packagers really need to make €2.20+/kg each while expecting the farmers who provide internationally recognised excellent animals for pittance?
@Derek:
Your sentiment is correct but your figures are wrong.
I’m sure a proper beef farmer can correct me but the current price is roughly €3.50 per kg and they need about €4 per kg just to break even for the lowest cost producers.
The price differential between ireland and uk prices is €0.40 per kg which as I have shown will make a big difference to farmers. It’s hard to understand why that price differential is there since almost 50% of our beef goes to the uk.
@Tim Pot: thanks, I was only going on what prices per animal was said in the article.
@Tim Pot: your figures sound about right to me.
@Tim Pot: so should we base our pricing on the UK model for everything? Which would would result in a lower price for, drink, cars, vegetables, finance etc Or are we picking and choosing ??
Ha! Ha! Sounds like Aldi said to sort it or they’d get their meat elsewhere.
@Niall Bourke: Many shoppers like myself will only buy Irish meat
@Grainnewhale: many do, I do the same myself, but a good price can be the dealbreaker when you are on a budget and a lot of people are, good prices will always win
@Grainnewhale: As I do myself but I won’t say that can’t change.
My point is Aldi net worth $53.5 billion, Larry Goodman net worth €2.455. I think the term is b***h slapped.
@Grainnewhale: what are your other options when you go into Dunnes, Super V and Tesco?
@Paddy Cullen: quorn
Well done lads. Rest of country take note! The French approach works.
Fair play to the farmers and IFA nothing but admiration for them
Larry Goodman is literally making billions as a middle man in the meat business. The producers/farmers are losing money.
It’s hardly rocket science to see this is deeply wrong, and all this bullshit about the poor consumer is just a distraction.
@Gerard Carthy: guess who his son in law is?
@Oliverpool: he doesnt have a son in law. He has 2 sons and both are married to women.
@Brendan Fogarty: nephew in law…..
Larry Goodman. Too wealthy to give a toss about anyone else.
Supermarkets should stock other countries beef alongside Irish beef and let the consumer decide,
@Sam Cairns: do you not support native irish industry? Would you like some rainforest beef at half the price?
Farmers do not engage in “needless” activity. They have better things to do!
Sure red meat production on way out….the farmer s just speeded the process….
@Marianne: Hope you like eating timber!!
Larry Maith an Fear is a right prince!
@Chin Feeyin: I never knew prince ended in ick
Farmers go to http://www.jobs.ie
That’s what you do when the games over
The article said it all that this was a spat over membership
Any gardai about
At the end of the day this is all going to come down to how you want your meat farmed?
Do you want cheap meat produced on the factory farm model? , or do you want your meat raised with some sort of quality of life before slaughter as we already have with the family farm model?
Do you want your beef feed on grass, flowers, wild herbs and forage or do you want your beef fed on nuts, meal, and the extra antibiotics intensively farmed animals are fed?
The narrative in the media is all about price and very little about how price impacts methods of production, quality and where that road leads to.
Totally agree with the farmers they deserve better prices for the meat its that simple, too many other links in the chain making way more than them, and this is the kinda action we need when it comes our politicians block the streets and stop work they elitist politicians will soon come to heel.
Farmers the length and breadth of the country are members of marts and co-ops for years. Why don’t they set up their own abatoirs and freezer plants and buy their meat from their members and re-sell it into the market themselves? Cut out the profiteers the likes of Larry Goodman who never dirtied his hands in a farm!! The banks and financial institutions would back the marts and co-ops quicker than individual attempts to do so.
@Niall Sheridan: not possible. Larry controls all the offal with his exclusive licence from the State. So, for the last time, nobody can set up in opposition to him unless he says so.
@Sheila Teehan: Is that true? Isn’t that the very definition of a monopoly? Illegal under EU rules???
Not fair at all from Larry giving a measly weekend of notice. Should have made it five working days. Cannot digest a massive 10c per kg that quickly!! He’s right we all knew the rise was coming. Sure Cormac Healy of the MII said earlier in the week that they were about “to engage in the implementation of issues”. Perfect English. Swallowed a dictionary for breakfast.
Two issues simply need to be sorted – the 4 moves limit and the 30 months age limit – and we can all operate on the open market.
@Sheila Teehan: You’re dead right, lets operate in an open market, bring in all that Argentinian beef and then see where the farmers are.
@Paddy Cullen: Argentinian beef is making more than Irish beef atm
Sure we are supposed to be going green to save the planet so beef won’t be an issue if we are going to all go vegan eating plants and insects lol
@sandra clifford: Since all “the powers that be” are advocating massive increase in forestry we need to acquire an appetite for timber as well——Enjoy!!
I back the farmers all the way about time we stood behind irish jobs and irish people, and irish peoples right to protest
How is the best beef in the world getting less per kg than uk beef with all its previous issues.
@KevJ: it’s not really. Just the farmers being screwed on it. Everyone else is quids in.
Maby the farmers want Aldi and lidl to do the slaughtering for them and cut out the middle men.
ALDI to introduce Ballygohanny Beef, sourced in Brazil but packed in Ireland for a much lower price.
How many people would support Community Supported Agriculture farm to fork, cut out the middle man and supply directly to the community
Farmers need to diversify or reduce the herd availability. Doing the same traditional farming and just demanding better pricing isn’t going to work. Rest of European farmers are much more efficient with their land utilisation
have your say