St Patrick's Day: Taoiseach's visit to White House in doubt

Democrats' opposition to funding bill could shut down US government — and it could scupper Micheál Martin's planned White House trip

Taoiseach Micheál Martin's planned St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump is in jeopardy due to the optics of the White House hosting such an event during a threatened US government shutdown. Picture: Dan Linehan

Fresh doubts have been cast over the Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House over fears it will clash with a threatened US government shutdown.

The US federal government is edging towards a full shutdown next month, unless the Democrats agree to approve a funding bill by March 14, the day Micheál Martin is expected to visit the White House.

Mr Martin is scheduled to visit Austin, Texas before travelling to Washington on March 11 for a series of events up to March 14.

Concerns have now been raised around the optics of having a St Patrick’s Day party in the White House if thousands of federal employees are left without pay, with fears that Donald Trump's administration could pull the event.

A senior Government source said: “We are pragmatic, we are keeping an eye on things. Our embassy is keeping a close eye on things.

“We are monitoring all that is happening in the US very closely, but we have a plan marked out for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to visit the US.”

Congress is struggling to strike a deal to keep the US government funded, with Democrats, who are vehemently against the president’s efforts to overhaul the federal government, saying they will not support the bill if president Donald Trump’s administration continues with proposed cuts.