Saint Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for tens of millions of people with Irish heritage in the United States and all around the world – and many more friends of Ireland – to join in a celebration of Ireland and how our literature, music, culture, history and outlook on life have shaped our island and our international relations. We know, in Ireland, that we are truly fortunate to have a National Day that so many people enjoy.
The celebration is particularly special in the United States and I am delighted to be joining these celebrations, first in Philadelphia, the Cradle of Liberty, and then in New York in the Empire State. These two great cities and their states have deep bonds with Ireland, built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties, family heritage and shared values.
While I have visited New York and Washington, D.C. previously as Taoiseach, this is my first time to visit the U.S. in my new role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister for Defence. I am looking forward to further exploring the close economic, political and cultural links between our countries.
In both cities, I will meet with many of the Irish-American organisations who sustain and invigorate the diverse community. This includes historic long-standing organisations, as well as newer initiatives, all of whom are working to inspire the next generation of Irish and Irish American leaders.
I am looking forward to joining these organisations in Philadelphia for the second oldest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S., and to marching up 5th Avenue in New York in what is the largest and oldest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the world, in its 264th year.
I am delighted that, through the longstanding Emigrant Support Programme, the Government provides real support to our vibrant community and cultural organisations. In 2024 alone, 150 groups across the U.S. received almost $5 million. We continue to invest in this programme in order to support our most vulnerable and to build new bridges that will be the foundation of the U.S.-Ireland relationship for generations to come.
In our Programme for Government we make clear the importance we place on our diaspora. It is quite remarkable that from our country of 5.5 million, we are a global community of many millions, 31 million of whom are in the U.S. I am fully aware of the meaningful contribution you play in the transatlantic relationship and I am grateful for this. I look forward to hearing your views through the online consultation we will be launching this year to help inform the development of a new diaspora strategy.
While in New York and Philadelphia, I will also meet with innovative Irish companies investing in the U.S., as well as major U.S. companies investing in Ireland. These represent only a small handful of the thousands of companies and individuals who are deeply committed to the mutually beneficial U.S.-Ireland economic relationship.
U.S. companies have been investing in Ireland since before the foundation of the state. Today, there are over 970 U.S. companies in Ireland, employing over 210,000 people directly and contributing significantly to regional development. It’s no secret why they come to Ireland – we are consistently ranked among the top countries in which to do business, including due to the flexibility and adaptability of our workforce, our ability to attract and retain talent and as an English-speaking gateway to a European Union of 450 million customers for U.S. companies.
Here, on this side of the Atlantic, Irish companies are a huge employer of American workers and purchaser of American goods and services. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has confirmed that Ireland is now the 6th largest source of foreign direct investment into the U.S. This investment, worth $351 billion in 2023, translates into American jobs in all 50 states, with Irish-owned companies employing more than 200,000 people across the U.S. as a whole.
The U.S.-Ireland economic relationship benefits all our people, on both sides of the Atlantic, creating good jobs, strong communities, and stable and prosperous nations.
There are, of course, predictions of economic turbulence over the months and years to come. We are not immune from international economic pressures in Ireland. But when it comes to investors in Ireland and visitors to our island, we pride ourselves on providing the consistency that stands the test of time.
Making sure that Ireland is a great place to do business, and a fantastic place to visit, study or work is a goal shared by all major political parties in our parliament. With Ireland, you know that you’re going to get: a warm welcome, a dynamic pro-business environment, and a people who deeply value the U.S.-Ireland relationship.
The U.S.-Ireland relationship has proven to be invaluable time and again. The Irish have made incredible contributions to American society over the centuries, just as Irish Americans have made an immeasurable contribution to life in Ireland, including through long-standing U.S. support for peace on the island of Ireland.
Last month marked the first anniversary of the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive. We now have all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement back up and running and we are eager to use this opportunity to achieve a better future for all people of the island.
This is why our new Programme for Government commits us to building our Shared Island, addressing the legacy of the past, and promoting reconciliation. We are investing an additional €1 billion in the Shared Island Fund through to 2035 to foster reconciliation, mutual respect and growth.
A key part of this is support for the All-Island economy, which is thriving. There has been significant growth in cross-border trade in recent years, amounting to over €15 billion in 2023. Looking forward, I have no doubt that this will continue to grow as we strive to build engagement, understanding and prosperity on our Shared Island.
There are undoubtedly deep and complex challenges to navigate over the months and years ahead. I will always make the case for a strong U.S.-Ireland relationship and a strong U.S.-EU relationship. The U.S. and Ireland won’t always agree on everything, but we’ll always approach our shared challenges in a constructive way. We’ll bring energy and drive and commitment to our partnership, and we’ll focus on solutions.
There is a famous Irish saying “Ní neart go cur le chéile – There is no strength without unity.” Just as we celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day, so too should we honour the importance of working together as closely as we can. Our peoples deserve nothing less.
Simon Harris is Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister for Defence.
