Delivering a better shared future for everyone is the key priority for the new Northern Ireland Executive, this according to North's First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were speaking as they delivered the keynote address at the NI Bureau breakfast event in Washington, D.C.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Last year marked 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement. As a society we have come a long way and I am very optimistic about the opportunities that are in front of us.
“I am fortunate to live in a great place which is bursting with creativity and innovation. We are an attractive investment opportunity for global companies because of our talented workforce; dual market access with the EU and innovative home-grown companies.
“The special connection between the island of Ireland and the U.S. continues to strengthen and grow. As we continue on this journey towards a better shared future for our people, I ask all of you to walk side by side with us.”
Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly said: “We have come a long way over the past 25 years and today, Northern Ireland has a global reputation as a global partner in cyber, fintech and advanced manufacturing.
“We export to more than 100 countries around the world and have welcomed more than 1,220 international businesses to our shores, including major U.S. investors. Incredible work has already been done and we have made significant progress.
“As we continue to strive for a better, more prosperous tomorrow for our young people, the commitment and confidence that the US has shown in growing our economy has been truly invaluable. I believe that by working together, we can realise our full potential and keep Northern Ireland moving forward.”
O'Neill and Little-Pengelly are in Washington at the same time as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who is attending a number of events as well as meeting with President Joe Biden.
And this year's Irish celebration in the nation's capital is a rather more tense affair than in recent years.
The Washington Post reported: "The annual St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House is shaping up to be a potentially tense affair, as President Biden prepares to welcome Irish leaders who strongly oppose his stance on Israel and Gaza and as a portion of the usual delegation boycotts the event.
Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, and Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, are still among those scheduled to meet with Biden on Friday. But they may convey views widely held among their constituents that the United States should stop arming Israel and instead use its influence to end the assault on Gaza.
“I’ll use that opportunity … and tell them how Irish people feel, and that is that we want to see a cease-fire immediately, for the killing to stop, the hostages to be released without condition, food and medicine to get into Gaza,” Varadkar said during a visit to Boston on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the SDLP, Northern Ireland’s smaller nationalist party, said it was not sending any representatives to Washington this week.
“The White House St. Patrick’s Day event is a party,” said Claire Hanna, an SDLP lawmaker in the British Parliament.
“We have taken the principled position that we won’t be attending that party.”
She elaborated, “This is about the deep distress that we and our constituents feel practically every hour of the day about what’s going on in Gaza, and our attempt to use whatever opportunities we have — parliamentary and otherwise — to contribute and create international momentum to end this.”
Friday's visit to the White House by the visiting leaders from the Republic and North covers the political and business parts of the transatlantic relationship. The actual "party" is a reception on Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, in the White House.
