Taoiseach denies any NY snub by Donald Trump

The Taoiseach denies being snubbed by US president-elect Donald Trump on his visit to New York.

Enda Kenny, who announced additional funding to the Irish Arts Centre and Irish Repertory Theatre during his US visit, said he spoke with Mr Trump by phone the day after the US election.

At the Irish consulate in New York, just six blocks away from Trump Towers, Mr Kenny said: “This trip was arranged long before the outcome of the election. This is a business, trade, and investment trip, both on the West coast and here. There are no political meetings on this occasion.”

Although no meeting has been scheduled, it is understood that Irish officials were in contact with Mr Trump’s team on the possibility of scheduling one. Mr Trump has already met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

“Obviously, I have spoken — on the day he was announced as being the president-elect — to president-elect Trump, and I look forward to meeting him in March. We set out the position that we would work with the American administration.”

He said the issue of undocumented and legal immigration from Ireland during the Trump presidency is a “matter of considerable interest”.

“I think the priorities for the president-elect in his comments were the issues of the border and immigrants with criminal records, but clearly from our point of view we will work with the administration in engaging in Washington with them.”

Mr Kenny said he will be fighting to save the J1 visa, which Mr Trump vowed to abolish during campaigning: “I wouldn’t want to see that go. I think the J1 has been an incredible opportunity and a brilliant example of connecting different countries, different cultures. For young people, it has always been an adventure. It has always been a measure of excitement, of freedom to come to a different country; experience a taste of work; and having the opportunity of working in a different place. I would like to think that we could work to develop that for the future. It keeps that very strong cultural, social, business link alive.”

At an Irish/American reception last night, Mr Kenny announced the allocation of €1m in funding to the Irish Arts Centre, which he described as a “central plank of the cultural and political relationship with New York City Council”.

The centre is due to be completed in 2019 at a cost of between $57m and $60m, but still has a funding shortfall of $9m, which has to be raised. Mr Kenny also announced $265,000 in funding for the Irish Repertory Theatre.

A partnership agreement between Enterprise Ireland and Northwell Health, a leading US healthcare provider, was signed at a separate event attend by the Taoiseach yesterday. As a result, Irish companies will have access to clinicians and key decision makers in a major health network.