No decision has been made yet on whether Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to Washington, DC, to meet US president Joe Biden for St Patrick’s Day, officials said yesterday.
They said consideration of all possibilities, including a virtual event, was continuing.
As the Irish Times reports, a Government spokesman said the decision would be based on public-health advice, in both Ireland and the United States.
The spokesman confirmed there has yet to be a phone call between Mr Martin and Mr Biden since the inauguration, but stressed the two men talked after the presidential election.
The Taoiseach has traditionally visited the White House for a meeting with the US president around St Patrick’s Day, a trip that also includes meetings with congressional leaders.
The tradition affords the leader of the Government a much-envied guaranteed slot with the US president every year, though the visit sometimes attracts criticism.
Several senior political sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the prospects for the visit remained uncertain, and discussions were continuing.
Early vaccination
The uncertainty is in part due to the reluctance of the Taoiseach to accept an early vaccination, expected to be necessary for the visit to go ahead.
Senior sources around Government have privately discussed the potential political fallout if the Taoiseach and other members of Cabinet were to be afforded priority for vaccine shots in the coming week.
Two sources familiar with the discussions said that they expected a political storm if Mr Martin or his Ministers were prioritised. A Government spokesman yesterday confirmed that there were no plans to vaccinate Government Ministers early.
Other senior officials believe that to lose the annual White House meeting because of fears of political fallout at home would be shortsighted and contrary to the long-term national interests. Discussions are continuing within Government.
It comes as yesterday, an independent councillor in Kerry garnered thousands of positive responses to his suggestion cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan should represent Ireland at the White House with the bowl of shamrock this St Patrick’s Day.
Charlie Farrelly said he got the idea while watching the Late Late last Saturday night during which Ms Phelan updated Ryan Tubridy on her latest round of cancer treatment.
Ms Phelan, who was one of over 220 women who received incorrect smear test results under the CervicalCheck screening programme, is currently in the US taking part in a drug trial and is only 50 minutes away from the White House.
