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'I carry Ireland with me everywhere I go': Leo likely to indulge Pence and Ryan with talk of Irish roots

The Taoiseach is about to set off on a whirlwind tour of America for St Patrick’s Day.
I literally carry Ireland with me everywhere I go.

THOSE WERE THE words uttered by US Vice President Mike Pence at a St Patrick’s Day dinner attended by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny last year.

It’s fairly common for Americans to claim they have Irish roots (no matter how distant) – and to be honest, politicians are only too happy to let them.

With 93,800 trips by people from US and Canada last year – up 2,800 – they mean big money to the Irish tourism sector.

Money, business and tourism is what the shamrock trip is all about. So it will go ahead, despite objections to Irish taoisigh visiting Donald Trump.

And, when US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan speak about their Irish heritage to the Taoiseach during this week’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, Leo Varadkar will indulge them.

The Taoiseach is heading on a whirlwind trip of America today visiting Texas, Washington DC and New York.

Varadkar’s first trip to the White House as Taoiseach 

On his first St Patrick’s Day trip as Taoiseach, Varadkar, like his predecessors before him, will be meeting many high-powered American politicians, as well as the US President (of course) and a handful of governors and business people.

The vice president is central to the celebrations every year, with a breakfast hosted for the Taoiseach and his officials at his residence.

Former taoiseach Enda Kenny had high praise for the vice-president last year on Twitter, saying that he understood Ireland – a message Kenny was widely criticised for.

While pressure was on Kenny to raise the issue of immigration (his visit coincided with the date of Trump’s so-called immigration ban), this year there will be a focus on whether Varadkar raises the issue of LGBT rights with the vice president who has a documented history of approving legislation hostile to gay rights.

(Can’t view the video, click here)

However, it makes sense that Pence would take a central role this week as he does have bona fide Irish roots.

His grandfather emigrated to the US from Tubercurry, County Sligo in the 1920s, and it is understood he passed through immigration inspections at Ellis Island.

His great-grandmother came from Doonbeg, County Clare, home to Trump’s famous Irish golf resort. Pence is believed to have been quite close to his grandfather, someone he says was a great inspiration to him.

Summers in Ireland

The vice-president has returned to his ancestral home on many occasions over the years, spending summers in Ireland, cutting turf and saving hay in Clare and Sligo.

Although raised a Democrat by Irish-Catholic parents, Pence became a born-again Christian and shifted politically to the right.

Last year, Pence used his speech at the Ireland Funds dinner in Washington (for which he was guest of honour) to speak about the importance of his Irish heritage.

This is where he spoke about ‘carrying Ireland with him everywhere he goes’.

Pence was presented with an elaborate family tree and with the original roll book from the Co. Sligo school where his grandfather was educated in 1912.

Addressing the crowd at the gala, Kenny said;

“I know Vice President Pence has been a regular and diligent visitor to the old country, to our country, to Ireland.”

For his part, Pence recalled how on one of his first trips to Ireland he was allowed to help in the bar and he told an old woman that he was related to the owners. He said:

She looked at me and said, ‘You don’t have to tell me son, you’ve got a face like the map of Ireland’.

House Speaker’s Irish roots 

The Taoiseach will also meet House Speaker Paul Ryan while in Washington.

Ryan claims his Irish roots go all the way back to the Famine, explaining that his relatives hail from Kilkenny. His grandfather, James Ryan arrived in the United States in 1851, in search of the American dream.

Ryan identifies as Irish-American and even has a Kilkenny GAA jersey hanging in his office.

Clearly proud of his ancestry, he showed it off to Minister Charlie Flanagan when he visited Capitol Hill last year, and just recently, the Ceann Comhairle Sean O’Fearghail paid him a visit.

Last year, Ryan spoke about his fondness for Ireland, stating that “he loved” St Patrick’s Day.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Revelling in the 2017 celebrations – the first of the Trump administration’s – he paid particular homage to the black stuff at the Capitol Hill luncheon with President Trump and the Taoiseach (former US Press Secretary Sean Spicer was also in attendance, as was Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams).

While Varadkar will be spending a lot of time with the two Republicans, he will also meet with many Democrats.

The undocumented Irish is always a talking point during the St Patrick’s Day visit, but the Taoiseach is likely to discuss the stalemate in Northern Ireland, and the threat Brexit is posing to the Good Friday Agreement and the border.

It is also expected that a special envoy to Northern Ireland (committed to in recent weeks by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson) will be announced, with speculation that a new US ambassador to Ireland will also be announced.

TheJournal.ie’s political reporter Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington this week, including his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

Stay up-to-date by following @ChristinaFinn8@TJ_Politics  and TheJournal.ie’s Facebook page

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54 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel_Random
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:10 AM

    The clue is in the job spec. Temporary.

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    Mute Patabake Kennedy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:40 AM

    @Noel_Random: Seems to me that the card is also temporary. What use is it anyway.

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    Mute Greedylocks
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:57 AM

    @Noel_Random: 1984

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 4:09 AM

    @Greedylocks: yeah but no.

    15
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    Mute DJ François
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:42 AM

    @Global-Dominance: You need to quit drinking the alt right kool aid. No such thing will happen.

    37
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Patabake Kennedy: its all in the big plan where everything about a person will have it contained in the Card. Big brother stuff.

    30
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    Mute Donal Hunt
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Noel_Random: having managed projects in the past that made use of staff on short-term contracts (anything from a few days to a few weeks), the guidance I’ve received in the past is very clear. There should be a clear delineation of work and contracts should not be continuously extended (most companies aim to complete the relevant scope within 11 months while there is scope to extend it).

    Once you have staff on your books for more than 2 years, it’s hard to claim the work is temporary or exceptional. Any competent project manager would take this into account and design the project in such a way that they comply with the legislation in this area.

    Worth noting that the same people may have been working on different contracts over a longer period of time (i.e. there is room for contractors / temp staff to be placed with the same organisation over and over). However, there must be clear definition of responsibilities and most organisations ensure there are periods between contracts to avoid any misunderstanding regarding employment status.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:14 AM

    @DJ François: Ireland will become a safe multicultural dumping ground for the EU with its sea boarder it’s ideal for them containing any agro that will arise when they the streets are not made of gold

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:35 AM

    @Ian Breathnach: MillennialSpeak.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:20 PM

    @Patabake Kennedy: very useful I’d say.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:38 PM

    @DJ François: Alt right kool aid ? Lol, just apply for the green card and go.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:17 AM

    I don’t see the problem here. Surely you read your contract before signing it. At least I always do anyway. Also, they are being given loads of time to sort themselves out. Usually lay offs you are told that day or at best that week.

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    Mute john s
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:38 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: once u have unions involved they threaten strikes and bully employers . Lucas drivers signed up to contracts yet strikes for more even though they signed very good contracts. Kill the golden goose that’s what unions do

    168
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    Mute JesusMoreBullshit
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: Temporary 6yrs is an awful long time

    29
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    Mute Bhiniáimin Ó Beith
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:29 AM

    If they’re trained civil servants surely some of them can be transferred to other departments or even local authorities why waste the experience that they have?

    124
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    Mute Alan Walter Gallagher
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:29 AM

    @Bhiniáimin Ó Beith: “trained civil servants” …anyone can push empty envelopes around and pretend to be busy!

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    Mute Declan Curley
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:57 AM

    @Alan Walter Gallagher: yawn

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    Mute David Glynn
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:33 AM

    Missing the point.This is about people. They have done a good job or would have been let go. Government should lead by example.
    As similar vacancies at the grade arise they should be offered to them.
    Temporary clerical staff tend to be people in their late thirties upwards who want security to raise ther families. And what’s wrong with that unless you want everyone to be on zero hours contracts in dead end jobs.
    Full marks to the unions.

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    Mute Cheapy Ryan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:26 AM

    @David Glynn: You’re havin a laugh.
    Since when has anyone in the public service ever been fired for being useless at their job?
    This is more of the same from the same unions that insisted on not a single redundancy when the HSE was being set up.
    Double-jobbing is meat and drink to them, means more subs for their slush funds, and ridiculous salaries.

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    Mute Irene Donegan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:50 PM

    @David Glynn: Given the delay in processing various claims such as Carers and Disability Allowances, there’s obviously a need for more staff in the DEASP.

    14
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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:38 AM

    Well now that the writing is on the wall for these staff,they should look out for a new job and quit before they are handed their P45 and drop the government and their PSC contract ,the movable feast is a staff option also.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:52 AM

    @Honeybee: no need to rush out and quit. Given the States inability to manage projects (PPARS, Tribunals, NCH etc), this job could run & run…

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:38 AM

    @Honeybee: Now the condescending c u next tuesdays will see life from the other side of the bulletproof glass.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:11 AM

    These cards were useless anyway. Another e vote machine. Says it all about the incompetence of this government. Millions wasted.. and again workers pay the price.

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    Mute Tony Harris
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:28 AM

    @Donal Desmond: Useless??? What about the money saved through the detection of fraudulent social welfare payments for 1. No more cases of people claiming payments multiple times in different counties. Should be compulsory.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:48 AM

    @Tony Harris: how does the PSC prevent people claiming payments in multiple countries? Hmmmm you’re a bit fcked up. PSC card is a good idea but not as a national ID card by default.

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    Mute Cian
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:33 AM

    @Ian Breathnach: He said counties.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:28 PM

    @Tony Harris: Pity your comment does not include the bankers and developers let’s not forget Nama, The money recovered from social welfare fraud was miniscule compared to the Billions lost through the gangsterism of the above mentioned. The people convicted of social welfare fraud had not the resources of the state to shread evidence , or give inadmissible evidence in criminal cases concerning bankers. Of course the card was not designed for these gangsters.

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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:12 AM

    It would be cheaper in the long run to to terminate the contracts and pay compensation.

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    Mute Anti Toxic Quango
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:51 AM

    Anther FG catastrophic waste of taxpayers money adding to the I/W Ltd and Leo’s €1.7 million spin unit….

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:51 AM

    So bottom line is, it was all just another disgusting waist of taxpayers money, again!!

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    Mute Raymond McGee
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:12 AM

    @Colette Kearns: waist?? As in tummy?

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:28 AM

    @Colette Kearns: I beg to differ, the cards can be very useful, only recently I went out to find ice on my windscreen, the card scraped it off in a jiffy. A marvel of technology in public administration.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:35 AM

    @Raymond McGee: yes as in “ you in dummy “ thanks for your observation though!

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:45 AM

    @Colette Kearns: I’d say you thumbed up your own comment.

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    Mute Thomas Murphy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:02 AM

    They should also include finger print recognition or retina. Its the only way to limit payments to one per person. It would only be needed for a 2 month period every year to cut people claiming more than their fair share out.
    Any oposition to this would only be from multiple claimants

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:05 AM

    If their contracts were allowed to roll over for 4 years without a break technically they become permanent employees with contracts of indefinite duration. However if the continuity of the employment is broken if only for a day they loose that right. I think those managing the contracts have dropped the ball and the employees will get a full time job by default. Happens all the time in the public service

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    Mute Dam IenCahill
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Paul Murphy: not really.. are you saying that the legislation is designed to force headcount increases. Read it again. Justification is a hint

    1
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:19 PM

    It’s like saying that a builder must retain the blocklayers after the houses are built.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Dec 9th 2018, 5:43 AM

    The key to the successful outcomes was the element of CID. In the teaching profession when a teacher reached a certain time on continuing unbroken temporary employment they automatically became fully employed even though the original employment had been temporary continuously. This entitled them to panel rights of redeployment and so on if the post was lost due to falling pupil numbers.
    If the CID was successful in one of these card cases then has a precedent been set?

    18
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    Mute Donal Hunt
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:16 AM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: It would depend on the contracts and communication with the worker. Every case is different and its quite possible the work the successful complainant was different to these recent five.

    Projects typically have a number of roles and if you end up doing something similar to full-time staff but on different terms, the WRC will likely rule in your favour of you are being denied your rights.

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    Mute ChuckE
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:01 AM

    Unions again. Temp job claiming they might have other work to do if they are kept on. A scam if nothing else and unions again pursuing the jobs for life mentality. It is the main cause of some bloated public service sectors

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    Mute is our stadium ready?
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:32 AM

    No.

    11
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    Mute Thomas Molloy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:07 AM

    We live in two parallel worlds, that of the honest and that of the dishonest yet we can only have one set of rules.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:41 AM

    “I’m entitled to a life long job” oh fck off.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:31 PM

    So who got most of that 60 million or can that money not be traced anymore?

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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:06 PM

    They should contact Mary Mitchell O’Connor, she thinks contracts mean nothing. If you want to stay on you should.

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