Elaine Loughlin: Irish views on Gaza 'don't even register' in Washington

As a member of the Capitol Hill press pool commented, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's intervention about Gaza is 'like a gnat on a windshield — it doesn’t even register' 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking during the Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill during which the host, House Speaker Mike Johnson, reaffirmed US support for 'our allies and friends' in Israel. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

"It's like a gnat on a windshield, it doesn’t even register,” was how one senior member of the Capitol’s press pool described Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Gaza interventions in Washington.

It was a blunt but honest remark that you will not hear from US president Joe Biden who was keen to ham up his roots in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day, and who was doling out lines like “may the hinge of our friendship never go rusty” to the Taoiseach in the Oval office.