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LAST UPDATE | 17 Mar 2021
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has held virtual meetings with US President Joe Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Martin and Biden will be speaking privately as part of a bilateral meeting but the pair also spoke publicly as Biden received the traditional bowl of shamrock in the oval office.
Biden said that shamrock handover is a “great tradition” that “goes all the way back to Harry Truman”.
Biden said that the White House is set to be lit up in green to “celebrate the deep, deep affection that we Americans, particularly Irish-Americans, have for Ireland”.
He referenced his own Irish-American heritage and reiterated his administration’s support for the Good Friday Agreement.
Joe Biden says he strongly supports the Good Friday Agreement. He adds that he is committed to health, particularly cancer research and development. Mr Biden’s Mayo relatives dedicated a facility to his son Beau, who died of cancer, he says. | Read: https://t.co/J6eqAxaFW5 pic.twitter.com/5WTF7U0rk3
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 17, 2021
“We strongly support it and think it’s critically important to maintain. The political and economic stability of Northern Ireland is very much in the interest of all our peoples,” he said.
Speaking to Biden, Martin first passed his condolences on last night’s mass shooting in Atlanta that left eight people dead.
Martin said that the people of Ireland are “so proud of your election as President of the United States of America” and said that it “feels strange” to have to celebrate St. Patrick’s day apart.
“As you know well, Irish people love to come together to celebrate our heritage and culture with song with dance with parades, with poetry and with pride. This year because of the pandemic, it just simply isn’t possible,” the Taoiseach said.
He added: “I hope it will not be long before I can visit the United States again. For now, the bowl of shamrock in front of you is a symbol of the undying friendship between our two countries.”
Speaking about Covid-19 and vaccines, Martin said he looked forward to speaking with Biden about “how we can defeat the Covid-19 virus, working together, urgently to increase the supply of vaccine for our own people and for people around the world.”
The Taoiseach will later brief reporters in Dublin on his discussions with Biden.
Martin’s virtual meeting with Biden followed similar meetings with Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi.
In remarks released by the Government Press Office, Martin made reference when speaking to Harris to Ireland’s election of its first female president Mary Robinson.
The Taoiseach said that during her swearing-in in 1990, Robinson quoted Irish poet and Stanford Professor Eavan Boland who observed that she “was determined to write women who had been outside history back into it”.
Boland passed away aged 75 in April of last year.
“Alongside President Biden, your own election, Madame Vice President, has written history at many levels. As you have said, you may be the first woman in your role, but you will not be the last,” Martin said in his opening remarks during the meeting with Harris.
I hope, Madame Vice President, that I will have the opportunity to welcome you to Ireland too during your time as Vice President. You know the ties between our nations are rich and deep.
“The grass on the flag of your own home state of California, on which that famous grizzly bear prowls, is officially an ‘‘Irish green’’. A testament to the immigrants who helped build the Golden State,” the Taoiseach said.
In his meeting with Pelosi, Martin thanked the Speaker of the House for her “continued support for the Good Friday Agreement and on Brexit” and said their discussions also touched on “creating pathways to citizenship for the undocumented and the E-3 visa”.
Pelosi has been a supporter of Ireland’s Brexit interests in recent years and put pressure on the UK not to breach the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.
E-3 visas grant people the right to live and work in the US and there have been numerous efforts in recent years to see some set aside for Irish people.
In opening remarks, Martin again quoted Eavan Boland and her poem Quarantine in which she wrote of ‘‘the worst hour of the worst year of the worst season of a whole people.’’
“She was referring to 1847 and ‘‘the Great Hunger’’ which drove so many from Ireland to the seek refuge in the New World, President Biden’s ancestors amongst them. But her words capture, I think, our shared experience these past twelve months,” Martin said to Pelosi.
For our people on either side of the Atlantic, and across the world, this has been a uniquely difficult year. In normal times, Madam Speaker, we might be gathered today in the Capitol, squeezed together – elbow to elbow almost – around a table with the President, the Vice-President and scores of Congressional leaders, Democrat and Republican. But the times are anything but normal.
After his meeting with Vice President Harris, the two leaders engaged together with a group students who from the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship programme between the US and Ireland.
During the afternoon, the Taoiseach will also participate in a memorial to John Hume and will meet with the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus.
After meeting with the Taoiseach, Biden will also hold a bilateral meeting with First Minister for Northern Ireland Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
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Ha ha, he’ll never get to go there on St Patrick’s Day.
@roscommonrebel: next 2 years should be good for him
@Paul Furey: Is the leaker not Taoiseach from next year
@Shaun Gallagher: from December next year so Micheal will get to go to Washington
@roscommonrebel: ha ha ha Mary loo won’t ever get there
@Kevin50: You are a scream Kevs!!!!!!!
@Kevin50: She living in your head rent-free Kev!!
@Shaun Gallagher: Don’t listen to Paul. His predictions are 100% b0((0#
Bet Martin wishes he was in America at the moment. Having to save Varadkars neck again for the second time. They are both clinging to the same life bouy. One goes the other goes.
@Donal Desmond: the quicker the better ,, it’s embarrassing,
@Mill Miller: hang on is Leako or Mehole in charge next year?
Look at him, all smiles. I understand this is protocol and tradition has to carry on but I can’t stand him anymore. He has the charisma of a stork
@Deathwish: He looks more like Mr Burns (Simpsons) every day…
if there’s a deal on vaccines, its already done between officials over last few days. today is only a day for public leprechauning.
@Angela McCarthy: Please, please let it be
@Angela McCarthy: lol loved the public leprechauning remark haha
It’s a pity they don’t know the “Real Mehole” as they won’t or shouldn’t have given him the time of day.
@Thomas Armstrong: well it’s lucky they will never meet Mary Loo
@Kevin50: jaysus Kevin you’re obsessed with Mary Lou. do you fancy her or something?
@Kevin50: why? What are you planning to do with her?
The only taoiseach not to be wined n dined in the U.S. on St. Patrick’s day .. delighted for him
@Richie Donegan: he’ll be there next year
@Brian Carr: maybe, he might not get a invite then either or this sham of a government will be gone
@Richie Donegan: won’t it be Leako next year? Aren’t they doing swapsies?
@Biscuits Patinkin: yep was thinking that too and if any justice in this country that little gimp will be in prison
What an embarrassment!
@Thomas Murphy: Why?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: it’s embarrassing that you have to ask.
@Shay Redmond.: it’s embarrassing that you made the statement and don’t have an answer
@Thomas O’ Donnell: go back to bed Thomas..
@Shay Redmond.: and will you actually state exactly what you find embarrassing when I get up in the morning? Is it the fact that a small country like Ireland has the attention of the White House and beyond in the USA every year for a day or more? Is it that our Taoiseach, whether you like him or not, is seeking to make the most of it when we need it most?
@Shay Redmond.: It appears you are the one embarrassing yourself.
@NotMyIreland: I’m starting to feel a little bit embarrassed. But I did recently fart. It’s probably that.
She probably asked him to do ‘a little Riverdance type jiggy thing’ in honour of the day that’s in it and he duly obliged…
A dud leader.
Ahhh you’re on mute there Nancy
Muppet
Biden speaks of undying boredom after zoom call with potato.
Best of luck to our Taoiseach we are proud of you and know that our brothers and sisters in the US are also and whether it is Leo or Micheal next year we are right behind you and we value that special relationship
@helen wilson: speak for yourself!
@helen wilson: are you related to me hole by any chance?
@helen wilson:
That you Bart?
Why Kamala? This has been happening a lot. Was sleepy Joe in bed?
MM “Mr President. On behalf of the Irish people can I wish you a happy St Patrick’s day ”
JB “Why thank you Leo it’s…”
MM “Actually it’s Micheal”
JB “Eh one moment please”
On mute.
JB “who’s this guy again?”
Aide “interim Taoiseach Mr President ”
JB “Interim? Where’s the other guy?”
Aide “Under investigation by the Irish police I believe ”
JB “Ah Jeez”
Off mute.
“Hey listen Le… I mean Mick, good talking to you but.. ”
MM “Actually was wondering if you had any extra jabs …”
JB “… Kamala’s really looking forward to talking to you. I’ll just transfer you”
MM “Thank you Mr President but…”
Dead line.
Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!
In other news, when is Varadkar stepping aside ? What exactly was meant by “Leo always delivers” and what else has he leaked ?
@Declan Doherty: yeah, usually by DHL
Hope he ask him why oil prices are going through the roof again since he took office and the attacks ramped up in Syria,he will commiserate with him over the attacks in USA yesterday though
@Derek Richardson: Oil Prices dropped because demand dropped.
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has improved, people (at least in the US anyway) are moving around more so increased demand is now pushing prices up. Oil producers also say they need time to ramp up production to pre-pandemic levels after they completely throttled output in 2020.
@Diaspora’d: wrong oil prices were cheaper before the pandemic now stop your lickspittling
@Derek Richardson: Crude oil prices hit an all time low on 20th April 2020.
@Derek Richardson: they are at a 13 month high for the facts I just stated, what’s your issue?
What are there 2 Irish Flags? In this arrangement the Stars and Stripes (saluting now) is senior. If only 2 flags the flag on the left is senior. In Ireland the Irish flag is always senior. This protocol cockup from the senior government office is embarrassing to the country. Yanks won’t say anything, but it will certainly have been noted.
@Cez Miname: The Taoiseach is sitting in government buildings in Dublin (not in Washington), rightly so the Irish flag has precedence
@Diaspora’d: sorry. You are correct. I wish I could delete my comment
@Diaspora’d: OK it looks like there were more than just 3 flags so it would have been ok
https://twitter.com/brianod_news/status/1372206681959063552?s=21
@Diaspora’d: No, that’s not protocol here. Should only be 1 on parade.. the National Flag is not wall paper or is it bunting. More than 1 might be used if no other flags are present. Pelosi has 2 Stars and Stripes but they are arranged in accord with US protocol, with the State and the Irish flag respectively.
@Cez Miname: and in her screen view she is framed only by 1 of each.
@Cez Miname: pedantism alive and well here!
How long before he tries bum a few vaccines
@CraigAtkins0n: if it happens that he does, and saves more lives on this island, let him bum away… ya bum
It’s all boll..Ickes
Smirkey face
Martin looks like a bobble head mister Burns
Possibly the worst we’ve ever had and that’s really saying a lot.
An afternoon of Mehole brown nosing Sleepy Joe and acting the leprechaun. Cringe.
The plaumausery !
I expected to see a gurning MM with the big screen in the background and Biden on it, this is almost there, so predictable!
The two Leaders!
One with 11500 votes from a sixth count somewhere in County Cork.
The other with supposedly 90 million American votes for US president.
Reading all the comments here, he really is not liked that much is he?
@Paul Dolan: Don’t worry. The comments on here represent very few people, By and large they are nut-jobs trying to be heard!
@For Goodness Sake: must be great being an intellectual like yourself.
He looks like a little puppy
Tongue like a lizard. Slurp slurp
Sick as only a
Mehole. The man who created the HSE and turned an affluent independent country into a client state.
Its weird that in the 2019 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau people who identified as being Irish about 32 million, 51% were Protestant and only 36% were Catholic.
@On the right side: because only the north care about that not the rest of us
@On the right side: they all drank the soup ….
@Brendan Harlowe: The United States of America was built by the Ulster Scots. They were are still are Presbyterians. Whilst they might identify as Irish it’s not the JFK/Biden kind.
Are the barbers open during level 5?
Biden would be better looking after USA citizens and leaving Northern Irish politics to the Boris. Just saying
The 5k is going to kill more than the virus
Ffs you can’t say anything on this toxic platform
@Elaine McCready Preshaw: you’ve managed to say pretty much the same thing several times over, so not sure why you think that!!
Biden would be better looking after USA citizens and leaving Northern Irish politics to the Boris.
Biden needs to butt out of Northern Irish/British politics !!!
@Elaine McCready Preshaw: why they are co-signer of the international treaty. They have a duty to protect the agreement, its also one of the most successful pieces of American foreign policy in recent history so of course they would also want to protect it.
Truly didn’t know I remotely liked Leo until Me hole came into Taoiseach role, he is devoid of anything that reaffirms what most Irish people want or expect as a leader, and a total rollover to the Brits. Varadkar and Coveney done us ok for Brexit, this g o m been would probably have us debating joining UK.
Not a word about the Climate crisis, he was on about the biodiversity loss before the election, to woe the Greens Eamon Ruin…. Now he wants to bring more data centers to Oireland like the Limerick boys we want more Silicon Valley execs here he said, or SillyCon Alleys as gaeilge… Begob its goodbye to the biodiversity, fairies and leprechauns
Only nationalist comments allowed on this platform
@Elaine McCready Preshaw: ah now I understand your shade of fake tan…
@NotMyIreland: What?
In fairness it would be wrong for the Taoiseach to try and procure vaccines off the President when he needs them for his own people. We should try getting them off our European friends which unused supplies in storage just waiting to be administred.
I would aporeciate sensible and fair commentary. Thank you.
While to MM s speech ,I thought it was was cringe worthy…..MM ” Grovel grovel, ” JB “sure and begorragh tis a great little country you have there.”. MM grovel grovel , he must have sore knees today.
Would appreciate sensible and fair commentary.
have your say