Paul Hosford: Taoiseach emerges as EU’s unlikely hero

After his success navigating the Donald Trump Show, Micheál Martin arrived in Brussels as a potential bridge-builder between the EU and US

US president Donald Trump and Taoiseach Micheál Martin during the St Patrick's Day visit to the US. Martin's successful navigation of the Oval Office summit contrasts with Friedrich Merz's similar meeting a fortnight ago. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

With the Donald Trump Show navigated successfully, Micheál Martin boarded the Government’s brand-new jet and headed for another international engagement — albeit one which should be somewhat less difficult to navigate.

The Government’s new twin-jet liner touched down in the Belgian capital last night, as the Taoiseach prepared for a European Council meeting which will address the military escalation in the Middle East, including “its consequences on the EU in terms of energy prices and energy security”.