He said there was a need to continue engagement with the US administration to protect jobs in Ireland as well as trade between the two countries: “It is very important because, first of all, the economic relationship between Europe and US and between Ireland and the US is an extremely important one, very robust one.”.
Sinn Fein has announced that its president, Mary Lou McDonald, and vice president, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, would not travel to Washington DC in March this year in protest against US President Donald Trump’s Gaza policies.
Sinn Fein’s decision to boycott St Patrick’s Day visits to the US “doesn’t help anybody in Palestine”, Ireland’s deputy premier has said.
The Taoiseach said it was also important to keep engagement with the US to offer Ireland’s perspective on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Mr Martin, who expects to meet with Mr Trump at the White House for an event around St Patrick’s Day, said he had a “responsibility to the country” to attend.
