Motion calling for Irish political boycott of White House visit defeated at Cork City Council meeting

A MOTION which called for an Irish political boycott of the annual Patrick’s Day visit to the White House in light of the American Government’s support of Israel was defeated by a large margin at a meeting of Cork City Council this week.

The motion was tabled by Socialist Party councillor Brian McCarthy and An Rabharta Glas councillor Lorna Bogue.

It stated that, in light of the “ongoing support by the Biden administration for the genocidal actions of the Israeli state in Gaza, including arming and funding that state”, that the council would ask “all parties and politicians in Ireland to send a clear message by boycotting the visit to the White House on St Patrick's Day”.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr McCarthy said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present a bowl of shamrock to US president Joe Biden on behalf of the Irish people during the visit, but that there are “a lot of people out there all across Ireland who are saying no, not in our name”.

Ms Bogue also said she did not believe it was right for Irish politicians to visit America this Patrick’s day, owing to America’s ongoing support for Israel as it pursues its offensive in Gaza.

“They [the US Government] are the ones who are supplying the weapons, they’re the ones who are allowing Israel to continue its act of aggression against a people who now are entering into famine,” she said.

Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan said an Irish political boycott of the visit “wouldn’t contribute to saving one Palestinian life” and “wouldn’t bring a ceasefire any closer”.

Mr O’Callaghan said that when the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdelmajid, paid a visit to City Hall, he had asked the ambassador what more could the Irish Government do to support the Palestinian people.

“Her response was that the Irish Government should use its influence with the American Government, with President Biden, to try to ensure that he brings about a ceasefire.

“This motion is the exact opposite of what she asked us to do. That’s why this motion, in my view, is the worst kind of cynical virtue signalling and grandstanding I’ve come across in a while.” 

His party colleague, Cllr Des Cahill, said that “dialogue and diplomacy” are key to resolving issues and that it would be a “wasted opportunity” if the Taoiseach did not attend.

“I have full confidence that the Taoiseach will make the country’s thoughts and wishes known to the [US] president,” he added.

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent had proposed an amendment to the motion, suggesting that the latter half be changed to ask “all parties and politicians in Ireland to send a clear message while and if on a visit to the White House on St Patrick's Day by raising the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and pressing for immediate, full ceasefire and renewal of a peace process grounded in international law and the two-state solution”.

However, it was deemed that the amendment was too long and wasn’t submitted in adequate time before the meeting.

Mr Nugent said Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and party colleague First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill would “carry the message of peace and the need for immediate ceasefire in Gaza” during their visit to the US.

The motion calling for the boycott was defeated with three votes for, one abstention and 18 against.