Enda Kenny WILL travel to White House for shamrock event

Latest: the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he WILL travel to the White House on St Patrick's Day, despite calls for him to refuse the invitation in protest at Donald Trump's travel bans.

Update 6.20pm: the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he WILL travel to the White House on St Patrick's Day, despite calls for him to refuse the invitation in protest at Donald Trump's travel bans.

A statement released on his behalf this evening he said: "In order to maintain the historically strong links between the Irish and American peoples it is important that the Taoiseach continues to engage with the US President and his administration in Washington around the events of St. Patrick's Day.