Opposition TDs say Micheál Martin was not critical enough of Donald Trump’s war in Iran
US president Donald Trump with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea during the St Patrick's Day reception and shamrock ceremony at the White House. Picture: Niall Carson/PA
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been lambasted by the opposition for not being critical enough of US president Donald Trump’s war in Iran and not correcting him on President Catherine Connolly’s gender.
The Taoiseach met with Mr Trump in the Oval Office for over 40 minutes on Tuesday as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
During the meeting, Mr Martin said that the US president was “doing his bit” for peace in the Middle East.
He also said that Iran is a “rogue state” and that it could “not have a nuclear weapon”.
On the plinth in Leinster House, Social Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson suggested the Taoiseach had not adequately represented the views of the Irish people.
“Trump spent the first portion of it waxing lyrical on a tirade about his successful bombing campaign in Iran,” she said.
“Micheál Martin chose not to interject. He chose not to talk about international law. I don't think the words ‘international law’ were actually mentioned once in the Oval Office. Micheál Martin actually seemed to defend what was happening.
“If anyone didn't know Ireland's position on international law and its position on Iran, you'd be left thinking that we actually agreed with what Trump had done."
“I don't think Micheál Martin successfully represented the Irish people's position, who strongly oppose international law being broken and who strongly oppose illegal wars.
“It just seems like the overriding concern seems to be like stroking Trump's ego more than actually standing by our values and standing by our principles.”
While Ms Stephenson welcomed Mr Martin defending UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and migration, she noted that he had not corrected Mr Trump when he was asked a question about the Irish president and mistakenly referred to her as a “he”.
She continued: “It was a bit incredulous that he didn't say anything when Trump called Catherine Connolly a man.”
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty also said the Taoiseach had “failed to speak to the values of the Irish people and calling out what is blatantly obvious, that America's actions in Iran with Israel is in breach of international law”.
“I think a failure to do that diminishes the Taoiseach in the public's eye,” he said.
“I think his comments in relation to commending Trump, in relation to his role in Gaza, stick in the craw of decent Irish people the length and breadth of this island who know that the genocide in Gaza has been facilitated and armed by Trump and the American administration.
“I think that the Taoiseach is long enough around and knows that you know these things have to be said in a diplomatic way but have to be said nonetheless.”
Mr Doherty said that “of course” Mr Martin should have clarified that President Connolly was a woman, but it appeared he “just wanted to get out of there and wasn’t going to call up Trump on any issue”.
The reaction was not all negative, however. Labour’s Conor Sheehan said that while the “tetchy Taoiseach was a bit more like the twitchy Taoiseach when he was sitting beside president Trump”, he had done “reasonably well”.
“He's a very experienced operator. His interventions were careful and pointed,” he said.
“I thought what he said, particularly in defence of Ukraine, was really important, but also in defence of Keir Starmer.
“But I think it's really important that Micheál Martin said what he said in relation to immigration and also in relation to Europe.”
In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil justice minister Jim O’Callaghan also praised Mr Martin.
“I think he did Ireland and Europe proud in terms of setting out the values of Europe and, indeed, in setting back some of the rhetoric of President Trump, which, as everyone can appreciate, can be difficult at times,” he added.
- Louise Burne, Political Correspondent
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