LAST UPDATE | 17 Mar 2022
Political Correspondent Christina Finn reporting from the United States.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has tested positive for Covid-19 and his in-person meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House will not take place today.
A online virtual bilateral will instead be held between the US President and Taoiseach at around 10.30am Washington time (2.30pm Irish time).
Martin tested negative on an antigen test after he was alerted that a member of his delegation had received a positive result.
However, a follow-up PCR test came back positive for the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach had also received a negative PCR test result on Sunday, taken before travelling to the US.
After the dramatic announcement at the Ireland Funds gala in Washington DC last night, a government spokesperson said the White House and Irish side had no choice but to explore alternatives to the in-person programme of events.
The Taoiseach is understood to be feeling well and is currently self-isolating on public health advice in Blair House, a residence which is opposite the White House.
The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that both leaders will reaffirm the close and historic partnership between the United States and Ireland.
“They will discuss their countries’ contributions to the international effort to support the people of Ukraine and to impose costs on Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified war,” she added.
According to the White House, other topics include COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, Good Friday Agreement, and cooperation at the UN Security Council.
Capitol Hill lunch
Biden will still make his trip to Capitol Hill for the Friends of Ireland lunch, hosted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, where the Irish Ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall will attend in the Taoiseach’s place.
The usual evening shamrock reception at the White House is still on the schedule to take place, though the Taoiseach will be absent.
It’s not clear at the moment if the Taoiseach will speak virtually or not at the event.
Biden will deliver remarks at the event in person before the president and and the First Lady host traditional Shamrock presentation at the East Room of the White House.
The announcement of the positive test was made during the ceremony last night in Washington DC where the Taoiseach was due to receive a leadership award.
The Irish ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall, made the announcement at the gala event, when he had to step in and accept a leadership award on behalf of the Taoiseach.
It’s also unclear whether he will be able to continue with other planned events this week, such as the Covid commemoration event in Dublin on Sunday.
The Taoiseach was already in attendance at the dinner yesterday evening, and seated beside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi before the result of his second Covid test came through.
During the event, the Taoiseach and his staff abruptly left the event when the result came through.
As is traditional before the Taoiseach’s visit with the US president, he is staying in Blair House, literally across the street from the White House.
This is the second year in a row that the Taoiseach’s planned visit to the White House for St Patrick’s Day has been scuppered. The two leaders were forced to meet via video conference last year due to the pandemic.
There is understood to be disappointment among the Irish camp that once again, the Taoiseach will not make it to the Oval Office this year, or to the traditional Speakers’ luncheon on Capitol Hill today or the shamrock ceremony.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who is also in Washington for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, wished the Taoiseach well this morning.
Huge disappointment that Covid has disrupted the celebrations. Wishing an Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD a speedy recovery on this St Patrick's Day.
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) March 17, 2022
The news of the positive Covid result came after US President Biden addressed the event last night where over 800 people were in attendance.
He said Ireland is a “country with a past that tugs at our hearts and a future that’s going to change the world, remembering his ancestors who left Co Mayo and Co Louth 165 years ago.”
“The Blewitts and the Finnegans eventually settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania. And that’s where my parents met and we’re married.
“And it was in Scranton, where I was born, that I inherited my mother’s side of the family’s overwhelming pride, overwhelming pride in being Irish,” he said.
He highlighted the unique bond between Ireland and the US, stating: “Everything between us runs deep, the literature, the poetry, the sadness, the joy, most of all our resilience. Despite everything we’ve never stopped being dreamers and I think we Irish the only people in the world who actually are nostalgic for the future.”
President Biden added: “While terrible things have happened on both sides of our shores, violence, civil unrest, racial and religious discrimination, we are nations and people that are self-reflective and self-corrective nations where hope runs deep, and optimism reigns, optimism that’s brave and digs deep.”
He went on to describe Ireland as “a global force in culture and in the arts, leaders on the world stage, members of the United Nations Security Council, a country with a past that tugs at our hearts in the future that’s going to shape the world.”
President Biden remembered his trip to Ireland in 2016 with fondness, joking that the honorary doctorate he received from Trinity College Dublin meant he caught up with his wife Dr Jill Biden.
Turning to world events, President Biden said: “At this time, our time, we see more change and challenge, I believe, than anytime in generations. A once in a century pandemic, economic unease and anxiety, an existential threat, a climate crisis. And what we see today in Ukraine, an unprovoked war of aggression, and the vicious vicious vicious treatment of Ukrainian people, the bombing hospitals and homes and nurseries.
“But I also see the strength, necessity and endurance of democracy,” he said.
Yesterday, the Taoiseach had a phone call with US Vice President Kamala Harris about Ukraine and the value of nations standing against Russia.
Martin had a 20-minute phone conversation with Harris who praised Ireland’s humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine.
They discussed the sacrifice and courage of people in Ukraine, and also talked about Zelenskyy’s call with the Taoiseach and the Ukrainian president’s address to US Congress earlier today.
They spoke about the value of the EU, US, UK and other nations standing against Russia.
Harris is also said to have offered unequivocal support for the Good Friday Agreement and the unity of democracies across the world against authoritarianism.
It was reported yesterday that Martin would no longer attend the St Patrick’s Day breakfast at Kamala Harris’ residence after her husband tested positive for Covid-19.
The US second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, tested positive, but Harris herself was testing negative, the White House said.
The US ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin has also confirmed that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and will therefore also be unable to attend the St Patrick’s Day events at Capitol Hill and the White House.
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