Varadkar won't use St Patrick's Day visit to 'tick' Biden off over Gaza

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during a visit to the home of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, US. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Taoiseach will not be using his meeting with Joe Biden to "tell him off or tick him off" and instead wants to understand the US position on Israel.

Leo Varadkar is due to speak with the President in the White House later this week as part of the annual St Patrick's Day trip to Washington.

While Mr Varadkar said he will be using the meeting as an opportunity to put across Ireland's perspective on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he said he will not be starting off the conversation with any "uncomfortable truths" and stressed the importance of the relationship between Ireland and the US.

"I'm not here to tell him off or tick him off. I'm here to talk to him to understand the American position and see if we can influence it in a positive way," said Mr Varadkar.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to the media outside Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Taoiseach insisted that president Biden will always be welcome in Ireland.

During a speech in Boston, Mr Varadkar stressed that being a true friend means telling people what they need to hear and not what they want to hear. 

When asked about this in the context of his meeting with president Biden, Mr Varadkar said: "We're certainly not going to start with uncomfortable truths, we've a really good relationship with the US and we've a really good relationship with President Biden."

Mr Varadkar said the US president's comments on Gaza in recent weeks have been "very encouraging".

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during a visit to the home of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, US, during the Taoiseach's visit to the US for St Patrick's Day. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

When asked what difference, if any, he can make to persuade president Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: "Look, I'm not sure, but it's an opportunity, St Patrick's Day gives Ireland a very special platform around the world, not least in Washington DC.

I'll use that opportunity to put across Ireland's perspective on this and to tell them how Irish people feel.

Mr Varadkar said: "We've a really good relationship with president Biden. I have met him many times down the years and he's a real supporter of Ireland, always wants to know what he can do to help."

The Taoiseach said he knows president Biden is working towards a ceasefire, adding: "Bear in mind, for a ceasefire to happen that has to be Israel and Hamas and I've been clear on that too.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (centre) is greeted by Joe Kennedy III (second left) and Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of John F. Kennedy (left), as he arrives at the President John F. Kennedy library.

"I haven't called for a unilateral ceasefire, I've called for Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.

"While a small country like Ireland can use our voice to call for a ceasefire, the US being a powerful country has a different role, and that is to engage in negotiations to actually make that happen. 

"And that's what they've been doing in fairness with the Egyptians with the Qataris, so it's clear to me that he wants there to be ceasefire. Otherwise, why would they be involved in negotiations to try and make it come about?"