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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR will seek to get an update from President Donald Trump on the situation facing the undocumented Irish in America while on his St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington.
Varadkar will commence his US St Patrick’s Day trip in Washington DC today.
Speaking ahead of the trip, he said he will use his meetings with President Trump and other senior US politicians “to emphasise the strength and importance of Irish-US bilateral relations, particularly our economic ties”.
He added: “I intend to discuss issues including EU-UK relations, Northern Ireland and the US role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement.”
A bill which could give Irish citizens access to thousands of US visas every year was passed by the US House of Representatives on Monday.
The plan to add to the E-3 visa programme will now be voted on by the US Senate.
Varadkar said: “There was positive news this week in relation to the legislation to expand the E3 Visa programme, and I look forward to getting an update on how we can resolve the situation facing the undocumented Irish in America.
“This is a relationship that cannot be taken for granted and I intend to use my visit to Washington DC to deepen these ties, while also promoting EU-US relations.”
Varadkar will attend the traditional Irish Funds Gala and the House Speaker’s luncheon on Capitol Hill.
President Trump will not be attending the lunch, which is being hosted by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Trump has blamed his non-attendance at the lunch on Ms Pelosi, pointing to the impeachment inquiry launched by the Democrat-led House last year.
Later on Thursday afternoon, Varadkar will join Trump and his wife Melania for the traditional Shamrock Ceremony at the White House, and will attend the Ambassador’s St Patrick’s Day Reception that evening.
On Thursday morning, he will be hosted for breakfast by Vice President Mike Pence.
Last year, Varadkar, who is gay, was praised for speaking about being judged by his political actions and not his sexual orientation when he spoke at the event with Pence.
Pence has been criticised for his views on LGBT rights.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have cancelled their St Patrick’s Day trip to Washington over Covid-19.
Foster said on Tuesday they had decided “not to travel to Washington for the St Patrick’s Day receptions”.
She said: “Whilst it is an enormous opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland in DC, our priority is dealing with the spread of coronavirus.”
Foster and O’Neill will attend a Cobra meeting in London today to discuss the response of UK authorities to Covid-19.
As last night, there are 16 cases in Northern Ireland and a total of 34 cases in the Republic of Ireland.
On Tuesday, President Trump said Americans should remain calm in the face of fear about the spread of coronavirus in the US.
He said: “It will go away, just stay calm.”
TheJournal.ie’s Political Correspondent Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington DC 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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Star Plan??? Featuring Luke Sky Worker who travels the galatic mounting Sky TV dishes at a very reasonable price.
@Luke Lee: The Debt Star…..
@Luke Lee: Luke sky wok …
I’d say the manufacturers now are brickin’ it
@Tom Nolan: class
@Tom Nolan: I clicked the link precisely to see how early in the comment thread someone made that joke
“Rego”
@David Daly: just about acceptable I think
@David Daly: hahaha
@David Daly: you are confusing Chinese with Japanese people. Irish people don’t like to be “confused” with British people.
@Vincent: how silly of me. And to think all these years I was going around like a big eegit thinking they were chinese. Thanks so much for clarifying.
Glad the officials have been able to piece this together
Is this true or just a load of blocks?
I thought learning to create your own was the whole point… :)
took a while to build a case
The puns are getting atrocious! Time to Lego and move on…
Break it up,break it up,nothing to see here
The ring leaders are in pieces now…
Sounds like a joke but this is big big business
@Ronan McDermott: I don’t get it
@Tony Donoghue: go on Wish.com and type in “Lego”.
一切都很棒
@Seán C: well said
Lads, just build a wall will ye?
No one constructive comment……
@John Brophy: Some fakin’ awful ones to be sure..
Bought some of this on Wish, didn’t know it was fake, best fakes I’ve ever seen. The Chinese, a great bunch of lads
Company has now been renamed..Leg It
Somebody call Emmett
Somebody refused to make a donation to the Shenzhen’s policemen’s retirement fund…
Police are working hard to put the case together… piece by piece…
Best thing about smashing a fake Lego ring is you can make something else with the pieces
Robbery that sssstufff
They done well to piece that together.
You couldn’t make it up!
Johnny Keane – u could make it up it comes with instructions
@The Red Devil:
@The Red Devil: hahaha
:)
They “dismantled” a fake lego ring bah ha ha very good
Reports have it that the snitch turned out to working for a rival Duplo cartel
Took 3 reads to grasp that headline.
Looks like it’s all gone to pieces for them now :(
But do they hurt like hell if you step on one?!
I dont own any – but was tempted as they make rare sets which are long discontinued by lego and by youtube reviews the quality is excellent. Much better then megablocks etc.
Something didn’t sit right..
I just ordered a lepin technics from AliExpress.. here’s hoping it arrives.
Great headline.
“china police” ? is this a new version of the ‘terracotta army’ !
One way to recycle those toxic plastics I suppose, with children ending up putting those fake goods right into their mouths?
Anyone old enough to remember Airfix Betta Bilda? It was the poor relation of Lego. No? Jaysus, I’m getting way too old…
Luke I’m not ur father I’m a fake da DNA TEST NEEDED
How is it possible even,to make a ring out of lego? Thought that the blocks are square.
I heard a fake Christie Moore song yesterday in Beijing. It’s called Night Prayer by Iridio
have your say