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TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS will travel to Washington DC today ahead of his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday.
However, before the trip has even begun, there has been a setback, with a reception for invited guests at the White House Rose Garden being “postponed” due to an incoming hurricane.
Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it heads towards landfall in Florida expected on Wednesday.
The Dáil is to begin an hour earlier today so as to facilitate the Taoiseach taking Leaders’ Questions before he catches his flight this afternoon.
Following the meeting at the White House on Wednesday, the Taoiseach and President Biden were due to hold an event to mark the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US.
However, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: “President Biden and Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke last night.
“The President asked that they would proceed as planned at the Oval Office on Wednesday but, given the grave threat posed in the United States by Hurricane Milton, they would postpone the reception in the Rose Garden until a later date.
“The Taoiseach will proceed with all other parts of his program in Washington.”
Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it heads towards a possible landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Biden and Harris were originally scheduled to speak at an event to mark the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US.
The event was also billed as an opportunity to “reflect on President Biden’s career-long friendship with Ireland”.
During his visit to Washington DC, the Taoiseach will also undertake a number of other engagements, including political meetings as well as an event at Georgetown University on Thursday.
This visit will be Harris’s first to the White House as Taoiseach and his first meeting with Biden.
Harris said last week that he plans to raise concerns about the US administration’s ongoing support for Israel, particularly in relation to providing arms for Israeli forces.
Harris insisted Ireland’s foreign policy was consistent, stating:
“The beauty of Irish foreign policy is its consistency. No matter who carries out the offence, whether you’re a big country, whether you’re a small country, we have a consistent approach towards de-escalation, ceasefire, dialogue, peace and respect for the UN and international courts.
“And that’s what I say to every counterpart and leader I meet.”
He said there are “great friendships between Ireland and America that run beyond any individual, including me”.
“There are people getting out of bed this morning and going to work in companies where those jobs have been created by companies in the United States of America and vice versa. Our countries have great, proud diplomatic links.
“I’m proud of the diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States of America, and I believe the overwhelming majority of people in this country are too. I’m also proud of the tradition of taoisigh and presidents being able to engage on issues too.
“But you also speak the truth to your friends. And Ireland’s never afraid to speak our view. And I’m not afraid of that either. We speak the truth. We speak up for our foreign policy.
“We have an independent foreign policy, and our independent foreign policy is very clear in relation to what should happen in the Middle East,” said the Taoiseach.
There has been a marked escalation in the violence in the Middle East since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in Washington DC in March.
Significant pressure was placed on Varadkar to raise concerns about Gaza and the US support for Israel through the delivery of arms.
Varadkar raised the issue of Gaza in the Oval Office meeting, but the Taoiseach was quick to tell the media afterwards that Biden made it clear to him that the US would continue to supply weapons to Israel.
All eyes will be on Harris this week to see if he delivers a similar message to the president in the Oval Office this week. It should be noted that Varadkar made such remarks in the knowledge that he had planned to step away from his role as Taoiseach upon his return to Ireland.
Harris is in a different position, instead facing towards a general election, when all his actions and words will be heavily scrutisined
The March visit was the subject of much criticism, as some politicians called on then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to boycott the White House over the United States’ response to the war in Gaza.
Political Editor Christina Finn will be in Washington DC to bring you all the latest from the week’s events.
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Fair play to voxpro.
True but what are the two grinning idiots doing there?
Everywhere they seem to go there is a massive jobs announcement. They must be the luckiest lads in the world.
Yes Ted – they’re like the opposite of Jessica Fletcher …
Joseph they are the taoiseach and minister for jobs. They helped facilitate the new jobs and are no doubt enjoying the positive limelight that stories like this bring.
@seb.
I’d be pretty sure that they had feck all to do with it. Just jumping on the pre election bandwagon.
Bruton is the Minister for Gobs not Jobs.
How did they help facilitate the new jobs?
Kenny is saying let them eat cake the peasants.
@Joseph
Company is supported by Enterprise Ireland..Government run body. That’s how they helped facilitate the new jobs…
How exactly is it supported ? Who is looking after the Irish Water call center ? any ideas about that?
350 new jobs means a nice bit of extra tax revenue coming soon why else would the grinning idiots be there…
Would you ever cop on the only jobs they create is jobs for the boys
@Joseph
Enterprise Ireland have a number of funding mechanisms, potentially investing hundreds of thousands in the company and taking an equity stake in it. I’m not sure exactly what funding they are getting.
Honestly dude though, stick to the point. What has the Irish water call center got to do with this?
Any chance of a bit of balance Joseph? If you complain about the Govt not creating enough jobs, and then they are created through Govt-supported money then credit where it’s due.
Michael have you taken notice of what has been going on and reveled over the last 6 – 8 weeks. You want “balance”, I want these filthy corrupt parasites jailed.
@Joseph
But you have to admit you are being a bit biased on your argument here? I can understand your dislike of the current government but that shouldn’t come into this argument.
Chris in all honesty do you consider it “fair” what these people are doing to the general population in this country?
We are talking about one specific story hear. I don’t see any reason why need to bring up what “these people” are doing in general. My whole argument is that you look at this extremely positive piece of news for Cork and Ireland as a whole and try and see only the negatives. Regardless of you disagreeing with what the government are doing you have to at least recognise that this is a positive story and that like it or not a government body had a positive part to play in it.
To be honest Joe it worries me that there are people like you out there, probably trying to get into politics. I would happily endure another 10 years of austerity than have someone as narrowminded as you anywhere close to running the country
Yes Joseph, I follow all of that too. Today’s news though is fantastic for hundreds of families and there will be ancillary benefits to many others accruing from these job announcements. It’s annoying that every bloody positive news story has to be followed by endless negative comments on the present Govt. There are many other stories where you can give your opinion and it will be respected. But this news should only be commented on with optimism at the difference it will make to people. And a balanced agreement that yes, sometimes, this Govt. gets things right. It’s Friday, cheer up man.
Chris telling the truth is not always the most popular thing to do. I’d be far more worried about the people that are in politics now and what is being planned for our kids by these parasites.
The truth? Just out of interest, do you think the government should have more involvement in jobs creation or less? By the sounds of it you don’t think they do enough. What would you have them do differently? In general what would you do differently with regards to other issues?
We need a new constitution that reflects the needs of a modern secular democratic republic.
We need accountability and transparency in all public affairs.
Yippie, more jobs for Cork. You’ll all be moving down here soon!
Well done cork
Well done.Very good news.
Except for people living in countries that the outsourcing is taking jobs from of course. Remember the outcry when Aviva did the same thing? Nothing like good old fashioned hypocrisy
I was with Voxpro in the early years when they had a small office with a small team. Dan and Linda built that business from a small office with a handful if dedicated employees to what it is today. A true success in the current climate.
I take my hat off to them.
Good news on the economy/jobs and Adams arrested. Shinners must be ready to explode.
Very true tom. I often think that when I hear good news on the economy, shinners and populist socialists must be tearing their hair out because good news for Ireland is bad news for them.
Btw “explode” was an unintentional pun.
Sebastian – have you not heard? – all of these jobs are to scambridgers in Australia.
Hmm. If these jobs were not outsourced then better paid jobs would be created or maintained elsewhere. What is outsourcing really only taking higher paid jobs from somewhere else in the economy?
If they weren’t outsourced to an Irish company them they would be outsourced to Asia somewhere – so it’s still a good announcement.
L connors. That’s capitalism. Get over it.
Many companies will outsource particular aspects of their business for many reasons. Maybe they don’t have the skills, or the demand for a particular service would be infrequent and it wouldn’t be worth doing it in-house.
I’m not disputing that it’s not capitalism. Hardly a great jobs announcement though as outsourcing is just to replace other jobs. And these jobs would not be outsourced to Asia – as if that’s the case why is it not happening? It would be cheaper to do so and that option still exists.
Yes, but the option also exists to outsource to an Irish firm which is obviously well regarded and successful. The work could well be outsourced from overseas and would be new work coming into the country. It could also facilitate cost effective expansion for irish firms.
Stop being so negative.
L connors. Im not sure about the inner workings of this Company and how and what it outsources. However it is great news and for every one high end job created 4 or 5 other jobs are also created. They call it trickle down employment.
And minister Bruton and An Taoiseach can pop up in front of the cameras all they want and put on as many cheesy smiles as they want so long as big announcements like this keep happening.
L Connnors – the fact that Voxpro is creating 300 outsourcing jobs does not mean that 300 jobs are being lost elsewhere in Ireland.
The clients could be outside of Ireland
The services could be a result of increased demand that internal resources are unable to fulfill
I’ve tried saying this over and over in my head and it’s not intended as offensive…but how many of these jobs will go to the Irish? I know of a lot of similar companies in Ireland employing 75%+ foreign nationals
I’m sure that if an Irish person has the required language skills and qualifications they have as much chance as getting the job as the next person. Do you think there should be a quota?
They will go to who applies for them and so what if 75% go to them, irish people are probably above the jobs and won’t apply.
Not at all, a person should be qualified. As I said, I didn’t want it to be offensive. But when we see ’350 jobs created’ I just would like to know how many actually go to Irish nationals
I find that offensive tbh…I also don’t think its an issue and I’m surprised you think it is one
But why, the taxes go to irish people anyway. It’s not companies fault that Irish people are so thick and can’t speak other languages. Thousands of jobs would be filled if people got off there arses and learned a second language.
And by the way if you were in Australia or Europe would u liked to be viewed in the same man or you are summing up non irish nations.
I know u don’t mean it but…..
Same way you (what was meant)
I posted my response in the wrong place, it’s floating around somewhere here
Fair play boi’s .. Jobs for the boi’s
I’d say the taylors dummy on the right edged it. The suit on the left is a bit tight in the middle
At the rate they’re going we’ll have full employment by May 23rd. Amazing!
Wahoo, more call centre jobs for Cork
I realise how this might come across as offensive, was just a thought. Ted Crilly’s ‘not a racist’ video comes to mind. I’M SORRY INTERNET
Drop in the ocean to the 450 thousand unemployed.
Where’s Christopher with the negative spin on 350 new jobs? Ah, there you are, my little ray of sunshine.
If I said it was sunny outside, your next comment would be ‘They say it’ll rain tomorrow’.
Go out, get some air, see something beautiful, and then come back to us. There’s a good boy.
Job announcements like this sound great until you realize that the vast majority of the call center jobs are for native foreign language speakers only.
I don’t think job announcements should even make the headlines if 99% of Irish ”need not apply’.
These are ‘government’ created jobs.
Answering calls for irish water.
Electioneering at its finest.
350 new jobs and why am I reading lots and list of negative comments and bickering? This could have been 350,000 new jobs and some journal readers would still find something negative and have a moan.
have your say