No US ambassador for second consecutive St Patrick’s Day

Ireland will be without a US ambassador for a second St Patrick’s Day in a row, despite earlier expectations that the position would be announced during Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s visit there later this week.

The delay in making the appointment is expected to be discussed during Mr Kenny’s meeting with US president Barack Obama in the Oval Office this Friday.

Given the criticism the delay is drawing from the Irish- American community in the US, Mr Obama is likely to make some reference to it during Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House.