Taoiseach Enda Kenny with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Dublin on Monday. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Evan Short
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be going to the White House on St Patrick’s Day despite public anger back home with the actions of President Trump.
The cabinet agreed that Mr. Kenny should attend the annual events in Washington including the celebratory gathering in the White House.
However, Mr. Kenny will be carrying more with him that a St. Patrick’s Day greeting for president Trump.
He will use the opportunity of his meeting with Mr. Trump to state that the Irish government does not support the travel ban and restrictions on refugees included in executive orders signed in recent days by the president.
The decision for Mr. Kenny to travel comes amid calls call for the retention of U.S. immigration preclearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports.
The Irish government has ordered a review of U.S. preclearance at both airports, which are among a small number of airports in the world that offer the facility to passengers travelling to the U.S.
It’s unlikely that the review will amount to anything more than that. The preclearance facilities are seen as a significant boost for the two airports and the airliners using them.
Since the new U.S. travel rules came into operation at the weekend, meanwhile, one person was refused preclearance at Dublin Airport.
Pressure had been growing on the taoiseach not to travel to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day.
Transport Minister Shane Ross said he was against Mr. Kenny travelling, specifically due to President Trump’s views on torture.
And Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy said the Taoiseach would be complicit in the president’s policies if he took up this year’s St Patrick’s Day invitation which was confirmed last week by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
“Does anyone really believe Enda is going to stick it to Donald Trump? Is Enda Kenny going to go in and say you are a racist and dangerous man? The reality is he will go in and be tame and be craven. No message in reality will be sent,” said Murphy.
However, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said it was in Ireland’s national interest that Mr. Kenny go to Washington.
In the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr. Kenny said he wouldn’t object to an all-party motion condemning Mr. Trump’s action on immigration.
The move was suggested by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Sinn Féin President and Louth TD, Gerry Adams, said there was widespread concern in Ireland, and across the world, about the Trump executive orders related to travel and refugees.
"The taoiseach has made clear his intention to go to the White House on St. Patrick's Day, but his visit cannot be business as usual,” said Adams.
"It is incumbent on him to relay to the U.S. president, in the strongest possible terms, the opposition of those in Ireland to these measures.
“He must also ensure that Irish airports do not enforce the fundamentally unjust order of the president. I have urged him to do this without delay.”
Adams did not elaborate on the matter of airports as opposed to U.S. immigration preclearance facilities at those same airports.
Mr. Adams did state general support for the annual visit to Washington by the Irish head of government.
"The celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. is not the preserve of any president or political party or tradition,” he said.
“It is Irish America's Day and a time for our diaspora to celebrate their heritage and culture.
“It is a mark of these celebrations that they are inclusive and enjoyed by a wide range of opinion.
“Such diversity has always been a hallmark of the U.S. Developments in recent days are particularly worrying against that backdrop.
"The importance of Ireland's relationship with the U.S. is one Sinn Féin have played a role in building and supporting and will continue to do so,” Adams said.
This last statement would appear to be a clear indication that Mr. Adams and/or representatives of his party, plan to attend the White House gathering on March 17.
Adams was actually stopped from entering the White House event last year due to a Secret Service security snafu.
He has been a regular attendee in the years since the Good Friday Agreement.
Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP in the North, has indicated that he will boycott the White house celebration though he is expected to attend other St. Patrick’s Day events in the nation’s capital such as the Speaker’s Lunch.
