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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has handed a bowl of shamrock to US president Donald Trump keeping up the strong annual tradition between the two countries.
Both men gave speeches touting the important historic ties between the two Ireland and the US going back generations ahead of the annul St Patrick’s Day tradition.
Varadkar trumpeted Ireland’s long-standing relationship with the US and mentioned the plight of undocumented Irish in America and the strong trade between both countries in his speech at the White House today.
Trump, for his part, said that he “loved the Irish” and talked about the strong influence the Irish have had on the US over the years.
“It’s my great honour to receive this magnificent bowl of Ireland’s great shamrocks,” Trump said.
He said that the Irish were people “full of love, warmth, grit and resolve” and that it was “closely woven into our own”.
Trump talked about the “shared bonds” both countries and of how eight of the US founding fathers had Irish heritage.
“The US has truly been blessed with the luck of the Irish to have you with us today,” said Trump.
He said Varadkar would likely be back for the next seven years. Seven years is the term of the presidency in Ireland, while the term of a government (and therefore the Taoiseach) is maximum five years.
Varadkar’s speech
In his own speech after Trump, Varadkar referenced past presidents and the relationship between both countries that stretched back centuries.
“The portrait of your first President, George Washington, looks down on us here in the East Room. President Washington called Ireland the ‘friend of my country in my country’s most friendless days’,” Varadkar said.
We supported the cause of American freedom from the very start – we shed our blood to help make it a reality.
Varadkar said that in the same was, the US had “helped build modern Ireland”.
“One that is prosperous and at peace, self-confident about our place in the world, no longer an island on the periphery of Europe, but an island at the centre of the world,” he said.
Varadkar also referenced Abraham Lincoln – “the first Republican president” – and the American poet Walt Whitman.
Diaspora
He went on the mention the many Irish people who have emigrated to the US throughout the years, as well as the Irish Diaspora.
“Today the Irish Diaspora is found in every state, every city, every neighbourhood in this country,” Varadkar said.
“We have prospered in politics, in business, in the arts, and in the service of fellow Americans. Many are here today.
Many Irish serve today in The White House.
Varadkar also mentioned the many undocumented Irish living in the US and the hopes that some sort of agreement could be reached for them.
“I know that the Irish people who have made their lives here, including those who are undocumented and living in the shadows, love this country dearly,” said Varadkar.
“They have the same dream as the men and women who inspired Washington, fought for Lincoln, and work alongside you today.
They want to continue to contribute to the life of this great country, and continue to play their part. Their dream will never die.
He said that the Irish government would “continue to work with your Administration to find a solution to this important issue”.
He also said Ireland was “willing to match any move with the same or better for Americans in Ireland”.
“The best relationship between two countries is a fair transaction, with something given and received on both sides.
A good deal – you might say.
Business
Varadkar said that Ireland could “act as a bridge between this great country and the European Union”.
“And, more than ever, we are a strong and effective partner for you,” he said.
He said how the economic relationship between both countries was “a two-way street”.
“Irish firms employ more than 100,000 people here across all 50 states,” he said.
“Since you took office, Mr President, 59 Irish companies have made new investments in this country. We are bringing jobs, good jobs.
“Each and every week we trade $2 billion in goods and services back and forth across the Atlantic. We want that to grow.”
He then presented the bowl of shamrocks to Trump.
With reporting from Christina Finn at the White House
Welcome!
Welcome your are valued and respected for your brave move.
Good man Nasir welcome to Ireland,
But never abandon your own people.
Keep their problems in the limelight
It is people like this we need to enrich our society, unfortunately economic migrants don’t stop to think about the damage they are causing to genuine asylum seekers……….
@Sean Higgins: And the difference between the two is…do you know?
@Maxwell Eddizon: No…¡
@Maxwell Eddizon:
Asylum Seeker
a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.
Economic Migrant:
a person who enters another country in search of work.
@Sean Higgins: And every irish person who has emigrated since the 20th century has been an economic migrant.
@Sean Higgins: Wrong. An economic migrant comes to improve his living standards…
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: fair enough but how many claimed asylum in the countries they moved to?
@Maxwell Eddizon: does the word economic not give it away, anyway I’d rather not get into a debate with a lad who answers his own questions, see above………..
@Sean Higgins: 11.5¿
@Maxwell Eddizon: sure didnt he say he was genuine ,is that not enough for you
@Sean Higgins: No debate – just Google it and you’ll quickly see I’m correct!
@Maxwell Eddizon: does searching for work not come under the heading of improving living standards?
@Sean Higgins: Who then would clean hotel rooms, serve food in mcdonalds and restaurants or picking mushrooms in cold temperatures, etc…there are thousands of economic migranst from eastern Europe who work really hard to improve their living standards. Unfortunately EU is not about the same standards for every states. If some of irish people are desperate for work, in my country we have the highest production of cars in Europe. The industry is booming. Hovewer, in Germany factory workers get around 8,5 eur per hour. In my country people can earn from 3-5 eur per hour, with nights and overtime even over 1000 eur. We have still high unemployment in many regions in the country. But we have very good weather, cheaper alcohol and cigarrets,but groceries, clothes and electronics cost as much as in Ireland and yes, we pay for usage of water (by the way owned by French). Welcome in an EU
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: True.
@Sean Higgins: They cannot claim asylum if they are not being persecuted inn their home country. Are you aware of Irish citizens fleeing their country due to persecution?
Sorry for every imperfection in my written English ;-) Particles in my native language don’t exist. I just wanted to add I wish there would be more tourists from the west in my country and in all eastern Europe. It would help our tourism and economy in general. But this is a bit utopian idea. Better to keep emigrating or staying making cars for 480-700eur, working in lidl or cleaning rooms for 400eur or in case of having a degree to move to a capital city, where earning 600-1200eur is much better while paying rent from 200-500eur per month and higher. I just correct our minimum wage per hour is 2,5eur. If you want to buy a property the average price per meter square is 1475eur. In the capital city, it could be even more than 3000 eur per meter square. According the latest statistics average cost of diesel: 0,96 (Switzerland), 1.08 (Poland), 1,22 (Ireland), 1,18 (my home country), 1,10 (Austria). Cost of unleaded 95: 0,95 (Switzerland), 1,10 (Poland), 1,33 (Ireland), 1,35 (my home country) and 1,05 our richer neighbour Austria. The highest fuel prices are recorded in the Norway, Italy, France and Portugal. And I know Ireland has the fourth most expensive electricity cost.
@Sean Higgins: “Enriched” No thanks sound likes forced multiculturism . All of Africa or the world can head for Europe as refugees .
@Sean Higgins: economic migrants can simply mean someone who moves to a different country to avail of its social benefits too.
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Every person who emigrated from Ireland many years ago helped to build that Country they went to. That is why they were welcomed and yes there are migrants who work in this Country now and that is good. What about the people who come here and want to do nothing? It is mostly the Government’s fault as there’s no planning for the Migrant intake in other Wordsl they are feeding from the one breakfast bowl.
Nasir Great to have you here and looking forward to hear your opinions and culture
@Thee Orson Welles: Please publish YOUR name, and stand over your opinions, you anonymous coward.
@Thee Orson Welles: well SAID
He studied irish literature and is learning English. Well done.
Céad míle fáilte, sir!
Welcome .Try the stew Its delightful
@the druid: Coddle – proof that the eyes are a key part of the enjoyment of eating – coddle is a fantastic winter dish, but looks awful!
@the druid: had it at the Gravediggers in Glasnevin last week, can’t wait to go back for more.
Clearly a talented man we need to stop keeping talented people in dp when clearly they have a lot to contribute. Guys like this should just be given irish passport I don’t see any reason why not.
@Bhiniáimin Ó Beith: he’s still needs to go through the process first .. can’t be just handing out an Irish passport on the grounds that he seems a great man .
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: we need a few though
Lovely to see new faces to Ireland that will enrich our culture. It is wonderful to see a talented Journalist and Artist finding new purpose and of course safety and being able to express his opinions without fear and punishment ….You are so welcome sir, many thanks for sharing your story and lovely to see x
Wonderful little stories Luke these are meant to keep us all quiet, I’m sure this guy is a genuine person. My issue is the number of people coming in, I fear nobody has ran the numbers, we should not keep taking in people until we can sort out our own people. It’s not fair on people coming in, where do these people live? How do we feed, cloth them? Is there room in schools for children? Can health service cope? If we are going to help people, let’s help them properly. Liberal social justice warriors just want to show how good and noble they are. What about after the fact?!
Welcome Nasir. Keep writing about your country, the Sudan crisis has never really gotten the media attention it deserves. Never ever give in to clerical bullies like the NIF.
Welcome Nasir. I hope Ireland provides you and your family with s safe environment where you can all grow and flourish.
Great to hear a good sided story for a change, a land of a thousand welcomes to all peaceful law abiding people…
@Paul Maher: Muppet!
Failte roimh dhearthair
Welcome sir!
I have 5 of his paintings and we sponsored his art supplies by bartering… a very nice and genuine man
You are most welcome to our country!
Poor man ending up Longford.
Really nice story. Hope you embrace and lead as an example of 1 mans passion for what he does. Fair fooks.
Welcome Nasir! Good to have you here
Welcome Nasir, good hard working people are always welcome !
You are very welcome here and I hope your asylum case is processed quickly and that you and your family are happy in Ireland. Cead Mile Failte!
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