Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald have been met with some scrutiny from political party People Before Profit and pro-Palestine organisations following the announcement of their upcoming visit to the White House as part of the St Patrick’s day visit programme. 

Calls to Boycott the White House  

People Before Profit have called on Irish politicians to boycott the visit due to the US’ ongoing support for Israel in the ongoing crisis in Gaza.  

This position has been shared by pro-Palestine supporters and organisations. “It’s the stance of every pro-Palestine organisation in Ireland that Irish politicians should not be going to the White House while the US is the main financial and military backer of Israels genocide in Gaza” said Ciarán Tierney, Co-Chair of Galway’s Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). 

“I would say that activism for Palestine in Ireland is almost 100 per cent [in] agreement on this” he continued “Irish politicians would make a far better statement by staying away from the White House on St Patrick’s Day.”

Sinn Féins ‘Pursuit of Peace’ 

Leader of Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP) MP Colum Eastwood recently announced he would not be attending the annual shamrock ceremony at the White House in solidarity with the people in Gaza.

Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O’Neill will join Mary Lou McDonald on her visit to Washington who has said her stance on the meeting with Joe Biden differs from MP Eastwood’s. On RTE’s News at One the Sinn Féin leader highlighted the importance of the meeting in leading President Biden towards joining them in the call for a ceasefire. VP Michelle O’Neill echoed this, saying their visit would be in ‘pursuit of peace’.

Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell weighed in on the St Patrick’s Day trip and recalled the former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams who faced similar criticism when he met with Former US President George Bush in Belfast during the war in Iraq.  

“At that time Sinn Féin did meet Bush and explicitly told him that his invasion in Iraq was wrong.  At that time, I agreed with that decision,” said Deputy Farrell.  

“If we were to boycott then we too should’ve boycotted last year because of the continued use of Guantanamo….and a whole array of issues I completely disagree with the US on in terms of foreign policy. It’s either we are consistent on this, or we are not. I know that Mary Lou and Michelle will raise Gaza in the US when they are there,” said TD Farrell.  

The Shamrock 

But Mr Tierney has a different opinion on the politician’s plans to share the Irish view on the deteriorating situation in Gaza. “What the Irish say to Joe Biden behind closed doors in the White House won’t get into the American media, he just wants the image of the shamrock.”

The visit will include a ceremony where Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present President Biden with a bowl of shamrocks. “Joe Biden wants the photo opportunity,” concluded Mr. Tierney. 

The St Patrick’s travel programme will see 38 representatives of the Irish State visit 86 cities in 48 countries. ‘Ireland’s future in the world’ is the theme of this year’s programme according to The Department of Foreign Affairs. It will focus on young people, the country’s diaspora, and their perspectives on Ireland’s future in the world.  

Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Well-being and National Drugs Strategy, Government Chief Whip and Galway West Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton will travel to Singapore as part of the programme.