Paul Hosford's New York Diary: Big issues abroad dwarfed by concerns from home

Ireland's tax rate, energy security, rising rents across the country, and the President's decision not to attend a Church event in Armagh were of more interest to Irish journalists than global concerns

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: While this week may be important on a global scale, the job of governing the country continues. Picture: Brian Lawless

Irish journalists got as close to the UN's eastern Manhattan HQ as they will for the foreseeable future on Tuesday as we were ushered through the ring of steel.

However, far from being welcomed with open arms into the heart of global cooperation, the Irish contingent was met halfway up East 46th Street by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.