TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said he would have “no issue” with US President Donald Trump addressing the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Speaking in New York this week, the Taoiseach said he would have an “open mind” on Trump addressing TDs and senators, stating that it would be an matter for the Oireachtas to decide.
“There’ll probably be different views in the Oireachtas. Personally, I have no issue with him addressing the Oireachtas,” said Martin.
Former US presidents such as Joe Biden, John F Kennedy, Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton have all addressed the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Tánaiste Simon Harris told The Journal this week that Trump is “much more likely” to visit a sporting event in Ireland during his time as president, stating that the Irish Open being held in Trump’s Doonbeg resort or the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor in Limerick in 2027 would be two such opportunities.
When asked if he would have concerns that Trump could use an address to the Oireachtas to highlight some of the talking points he mentioned during his United Nations speech this week, Martin said:
“We don’t tell people what to say. We don’t dictate the content of a speech of anybody who is invited to speak to the Oireachtas, but, you know, we’ll jump all those hurdles when it comes to it,” he said.
When asked if he would be concerns that some deputies would use their speaking time in the Dáil to protest against Trump, the Taoiseach said:
“That’s realpolitik like, that’s going to happen. I mean, people are going to have different views and they’re going to protest.”
“We might disagree with President Trump and his views, nonetheless, I’ve to represent the people of Ireland. So I have to protect the national interest. We have an enormous economic relationship with America. We’ve very strong cultural relationship and people- to-people relationships, and strategically, that’s important,” he added.
He went on to state that addresses to the Oireachtas are not the “occasion it once was”, stating that he believes it goes on for “far too long” and too many deputies give response contributions.
“And I don’t mean that in any derogatory way, but there has to be bit of common sense in how these things are handled,” he added.
Harris said whether Trump addresses the Oireachtas is a matter for them stating that it would have to be considered seriously.
The Tánaiste added that he thinks “it’s highly unlikely” that Trump would address the Dáil.
