LAST UPDATE | 14 Mar 2022

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN will meet US President Joe Biden one day before their scheduled meeting in the White House on Thursday.

Biden will make an appearance at The Ireland Funds 30th Annual National Gala in Washington DC on Wednesday evening. 

The Taoiseach is traveling to the United States today to begin his week-long trip to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. 

The US president is expected to address the Ireland Funds reception, made up of 800 plus guests at the sold-out event.

Every year, the Taoiseach attends the fundraiser for the philanthropic network, which seeks to support peace, culture, education, and community development throughout the island of Ireland. 

Martin will receive The International Leadership Award at the event for his longstanding commitment to public service.

Other guests at Wednesday’s event will include Daniel Mulhall, Irish Ambassador to the U.S, Claire Cronin, the US Ambassador to Ireland, Dame Karen Elizabeth Pierce, who is the British Ambassador to the US, Andrew Elliott, Director/Counselor of the Northern Ireland Bureau and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

“It is an extraordinary honor to have both the President of the United States and the Taoiseach with us for this milestone gathering,” said Caitriona Fottrell, President & CEO of The Ireland Funds.

“It is a true celebration of the deep bonds of friendship that connect the United States and the island of Ireland,” she said.

This is the first St Patrick’s Day trip to the US undertaken by Martin as Taoiseach.

Last year, due to Covid-19, the Taoiseach held virtual meetings with US President Joe Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. 

Biden still received the traditional bowl of shamrock in the Oval Office last year, and during the shamrock handover the US president said it is a “great tradition” that “goes all the way back to Harry Truman”. 

Biden is often keen to reference his own Irish-American heritage, and it is expected he might announce a date for which he will travel to Ireland this year for a visit. 

This year’s trip will also be special to Martin, as it will be his last opportunity to visit the White House on St Patrick’s Day as Taoiseach. Leo Varadkar and Martin are due to rotate roles in December this year.

Unlike other years, the Taoiseach will only visit Washington DC, and will not visit any other US cities. 

After travelling today, the Taoiseach’s itinerary will kick off tomorrow with various meetings where he will focus on economic links and the promotion of trade and investment between the US and Ireland. He will later attend a Tourism Ireland gala event.

On Wednesday, he will attend an Enterprise Ireland business roundtable event where the discussion will focus on Irish companies investing in the US. There will also be a discussion on women in business. 

The Taoiseach will also attend the traditional IDA luncheon, an event which takes place each year to highlight Ireland’s strengths as a location for international business and investment. He will also address the US Chamber of Commerce.  

On St Patrick’s Day, the Taoiseach will have breakfast with Vice President Harris in her home, before attending the Capitol Hill luncheon.

The Taoiseach will also attend the White House where he will meet with the US President in the Oval Office, before attending the annual shamrock ceremony in the White House later that evening. 

In his meetings with Biden, it is expected that Martin will renew his invitation to the US president to visit Ireland this year.

He will also emphasise the strength of Irish-US relations, and will recall the important role of the US in supporting peace, the Good Friday Agreement, and Ireland’s position on Brexit.

The crisis in Ukraine is expected to be high on the agenda this year.

The Journal’s Political Correspondent Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Micheál Martin’s visit to Washington DC this week, including his meeting with US President Joe Biden on Thursday.

Stay up-to-date by following @christinafinn8, @TJ_Politics  and TheJournal.ie’s Facebook page.