Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and eight ministers plan unprecedented St Patrick's Day blitz on US
The presentation of a bowl of shamrock to the US president is the traditional centrepiece of the St Patrick's Day events in the US. Picture: Niall Carson/PA
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and eight ministers will travel to the US as part of an unprecedented diplomatic blitz aimed at securing the Irish relationship with the US in the first year of the new Trump administration.
Micheál Martin is expected to take part in the traditional St Patrick’s Day reception at the White House with US president Donald Trump, while Simon Harris will visit another part of the country.
A further eight government ministers will travel to the US for St Patrick’s Day, with a government source indicating that most of them will be senior Cabinet ministers.
The major charm offensive to the US is to be brought to Cabinet for approval by Mr Harris.
Government ministers will travel to a total of 40 locations as part of the St Patrick’s Day programme.
Mr Harris is expected to tell ministers that this year’s programme is particularly important to build relationships with political leaders in the US, at both federal and state level. Ministers travelling to the US will be expected to emphasise the mutually beneficial relationship between Ireland and the US, which is valued at over €1tn per year.
On Wednesday, in his role as Trade Minister, Mr Harris will take part in a virtual meeting with EU trade ministers and commissioner Maros Sefcovic where EU-US trade relations will be assessed.
The 27 trade ministers will take stock of Mr Trump’s executive order placing a 25% duty on steel and aluminium imports beginning on March 12.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Harris said his priority is to protect the interests of Irish and European businesses, workers, and consumers from unfair tariffs measures and to avoid “an escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs”.
Meanwhile, Further Education Minister James Lawless will tell Cabinet that Ireland’s membership application for Cern has been approved by the council and the final agreement will be signed once the Government has given authorisation.
Cern membership will cost €2m per year but Cabinet will hear that the benefits outweigh the cost. Membership would allow Irish researchers to participate in its scientific programmes, Irish citizens will be eligible for jobs, and firms will be able to compete for contracts.
Cabinet will hear that €420m is to be invested in the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund to improve access to hospital care and reduce waiting times for patients as part of the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is expected to provide the average waiting times and number of patients on waiting lists.
The Taoiseach will update Cabinet on the cross-government programme aimed at tackling child poverty and improving wellbeing.
It comes ahead of the publication of two progress reports, one from the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Programme Office, while the second will focus on the impact of Budget 2025 measures on children.
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on National Development Plan delivery and is expected to say that €15bn was spent on capital expenditure in 2024.
Housing Minister James Browne will also bring a quarterly expenditure report.
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