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TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY is travelling to New York and Washington today where it’s expected he will brief US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the Northern Ireland peace process.
While in the US, the Foreign Affairs Minister is due to attend a series of meetings with members of the Trump Administration and the United Nations.
It’s understood Tillerson, a Republican politician, asked to be briefed on the Good Friday Agreement and peace process, with Coveney scheduled to attend a bilateral meeting with the secretary on Friday evening.
The pair is also expected to discuss the US/Irish relationship, among other issues.
Coveney begins the first leg of the trip following today’s Cabinet meeting, when he is due to travel to New York.
On Wednesday the Tánaiste will deliver an address on Brexit at Columbia University while on Thursday he will begin the government’s programme to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at Cooperation Ireland’s ‘20 years of Peace’ event with a keynote address.
Ahead of the trip, Coveney told TheJournal.ie: “The Good Friday Agreement has had a transformative effect on the island of Ireland and all of us who believe in lasting peace in Northern Ireland need to stand by the agreement and defend it from anyone who says otherwise.”
He added:
We are reflecting on 20 years this year since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The fact that the Executive and Assembly are not currently operating in Northern Ireland makes it all the more important that we re-commit to the principles of power-sharing and strong North-South and East-West relations that are at the heart of the Agreement.
Good Friday Agreement programme before Cabinet
A programme of events at home and abroad to mark the Good Friday Agreement anniversary, which the US administration played a key role in, has been developed and is being brought before Cabinet for approval this morning.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been engaging with other departments on the entire island of Ireland, overseas embassies, groups and institutions in a bid to plan conferences, seminars, cultural responses, acts of commemoration and other initiatives to mark the anniversary.
The government’s programme will include events in Dublin, Washington, London, and Belfast.
The Cabinet discussion on the commemorations comes as Brexiteers have been accused of jeopardising peace in Northern Ireland following comments made by Labour MP Kate Hoey.
She told HuffPost UK “there is a need for a cold, rational look” at the Good Friday Agreement, stating that it is not “sustainable”.
Other issues
While the peace process is front and centre this week with the return to direct rule being mentioned, Coveney will also address other matters while in the US.
On Wednesday the Tánaiste will also hold a number of meetings with groupings at the UN on Ireland’s campaign to secure a seat on the UN Security Council for 2021-22.
Canada and Norway are the other candidates competing for a place.
On Friday morning the Tánaiste is due at the White House for a meeting on the Middle East peace process with Jason Greenblatt – Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations.
Simon Coveney recently visited Israel and Palestine, including Gaza, in January.
Writing about the trip in an op-ed for TheJournal.ie, he flagged that he would be lobbying the US administration directly not to reduce funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides food, healthcare and education in Gaza.
Coveney said this ”essential agency” should not be jeopardised at such a sensitive time
Immigration issues will also feature on the agenda for meetings in Washington DC.
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Cue Trump moving the American Embassy from Ballsbridge to The Falls Road to solve the problem.
@alphanautica:
Irish lefty/liberals will probably want the American Embassy shut down soon I’d say.
@David Sinclair: why? Because the comment sounded good in your head? By the way, it’s the right wing Americans that are withdrawing ambassadors all over the world
@David Sinclair: But David, what will we do with our bowel of shamrock then ???
@alphanautica: As long as he doesn’t move the Falls Road to Ballsbridge I don’t mind.
@Dave O Keeffe:
I considered alphanautica’s suggestion rather absurd Dave so replied in like manner.
Obviously you felt his was a rational proposal then?
Very interesting Dave.
@alphanautica: I hope Coveney has some chalk and a blackboard to explain.
@Sean Gordon: You need to seek medical advice if you have shamrock growing in your bowel…
@David Sinclair: so I was right, your comment sounded good in your head but didn’t translate. You’ve done it again by the way.
@Old Gabby Johnson: I hope Trump has chalk board also along with an abacus to get through to Si.
@alphanautica: still sh*t stirring ..if the GFA falls apart and there’s trouble in the north again I’ll be thinking of the idiots like yourself honey badger and all the other effing begrudgers… what a shower of fools ye are
@alphanautica: Donald won’t be long telling Simon convey not to dictate to him you not in Ireland now.
Well that’s a waste of a flight
@ed w: now, now, I hear Trump is having trouble sleeping. Simon will sort that out no bothers
@ed w: insomniacs from local clinics are invited to attend speech
Still think Coveney is doing a better job than Leo, he certainly seems to be a more competent politician than Leo and he hasn’t got a spin machine to promote himself, It looks like some FG members picked the wrong leader.
@Mr Phil Officer: but only in your opinion…so we shouldn’t worry…
@Bruce Miller: well Coveney appears to be the more capable politician, his statements are more articulate and to the point, none of this BS sock nonsense and yes judging from the performance of both it is my honest opinion that Coveney would be a better Taoiseach.
@Mr Phil Officer: Credit where it’s due, FGs membership did back Coveney by 2 to 1. Shame they were ignored.
@The Risen: credit where it’s due indeed, wonder why they eventually chose Leo against the wishes of the majority when it’s clear that Coveney was the better choice.
@Mr Phil Officer: Donald won’t be long telling Simon convey not to dictate to him you not in Ireland now.
@Mr Phil Officer: disagreeing neither.
Probably easier at this point to find a solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict than the Northern Ireland question.
If Coveney is to brief the Trump administration on the wee north, he better be good at drawing pictures.
Trump to make the Good Friday agreement Great again ?
Lol I was going to say trump is going to rip up the good Friday agreement and they’ll sign a new one called “The Great Friday Agreement”.
@Damian McKeever: icis
First show Trump where Northern Ireland is … then explain how Antrim can be made into a bigly golf course.
Do you really think Trump will care? Maybe Tillerson checking for fracking opportunities for his friends in Exxon….
President Trump is friend of SF always attended their annual Christmas fundraiser in New York even before the IRA ceasefire….Congressman Peter King frequent defender of Trump on US media is also old friend of Gerry Adams and SF….
@John003: Don was at one fundraiser and he denies giving any donation.
@Dave O Keeffe: Think it was SF who deny getting one….But do they keep a record of donations…Gerry Adams called him up to podium at one event for a prize I think he made a donation
So, it’s gone from ‘always attends’ to him being at one fundraiser.
You need to get that SF chip off your shoulder john003.
@John003: they say they didn’t get one, he says he didn’t give one (which is entirely in keeping with what we know about him) you say different. Now, one of those three knows a massive amount less about the situation and wouldn’t you know it its the same one that came to the contrary conclusion
Although no fan of the DUP, they haven’t altered their stance on the role of the Irish language in NI.
@Bruce Miller: They backed out of what they signed up in Saint Andrews agreement so yes they have changed stance. Behind the scenes forces at work.
@Jangles: There is no mention of an Irish Language Act in that agreement – so how could they have backed out of it?
@Jangles: Irish: Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn; Ulster Scots: St Andra’s ‘Greement
@Bruce Miller: “The Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.” – from the aforementioned St. Andrews Agreement.
NI fatigue.
like they would actually care, better go to the kremlin .
@Ireland Just shoot me: why..
Any excuse stay home and sort out Vulture Funds, let leashed on us by Oliver Noonan Cromwell, the leaders of 1916 would be very proud of ye. Ruled by Fear of the ECB and the IMF and passing the bile onto the good people of the Country. Stand up and call their bluff
He should sail over in one of his fancy yachts instead take his time be no lose here done feck all for housing when he was Minster for housing waste of poliction like the rest ,,,,,
Bring a map.
Its an embarrassment sending these grossly incompetent gov politicians like coveney outside of Ireland. This guy has spend most of his political life sitting on the fence over pretty much everything.
He needs to get Mike Pence onboard who has family links with Ireland and has President Trump’s ear and may yet be the next president. Vice President Pence no matter what you think of his politics could be a great friend to all the people of Ireland.
Why bother? No money in it for Trump he couldn’t give a toss!!!
Another junket for a government minister waste of taxpayers money
Stay at home. They already have the lowdown on the north.
Maybe better to fly Bill Clinton back in on your way home, Simon.
Is that Simon Coveney of Bildberberg I see going in the backdoor of Goldman’s sachs …..
How the LNG fracking gas deal coming along
Why is water privatisation not sorted yet……
Got to check in with your overlords sometime. ..
Always good to have a smokescreen…
Just tell Trump we don’t need any help with Northern Ireland, even if that’s a lie.
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