Micheál Martin ‘reassured’ by Irish-US links after Philadelphia visit

By Rebecca Black, Press Association in Philadelphia

Micheál Martin has said his engagements in Philadelphia have “reassured” him of the strength of the Irish-American connection as he took part in the St Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.

He said he had not heard concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) may use St Patrick’s Day celebrations to target undocumented Irish people living in the US.

“All the various groups I’ve met yesterday have not raised that with me, but obviously there are concerns more generally, apart from St Patrick’s Day, in respect of the undocumented,” he said.

He said the issue of undocumented Irish people in the US was “difficult” but said he would be raising the case for legal migration pathways between Ireland and the US.

He also said there was already a “standing” invite to US President Donald Trump to make an official visit to Ireland.

Martin said he was looking forward to playing a prominent role in Philadelphia’s St Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.

“The last number of days here have reassured me or given me a real stronger, renewed sense of the very close sense of Irish-American identity and the connection between Irish America and Ireland, particularly here in Philadelphia, where there’s a very strong communal sense amongst the Irish Americans here.”

The Taoiseach has hailed long-standing connections between Ireland and the United States during his visit, which comes as part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Martin started his visit on Saturday by laying a wreath to those who died and who emigrated during Ireland’s famine.

He later met Irish athletes following in the footsteps of Sonia O’Sullivan and Ronnie Delaney at Villanova University following a brief stop-off at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by the Rocky films.

Speaking during an address to the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St Patrick’s 255th annual gala attended by 400 business and community leaders in the Pennsylvanian city on Saturday evening, the Taoiseach described his visit to Philadelphia as “regrettably short”, but even in that time he has been “amazed by the depth and enduring connections of the Irish-American community”.

“It is clear that St Patrick’s Day is not just a day here but a whole season of celebrations,” he said.

“I am especially looking forward to marching in the parade tomorrow alongside the community.

“As a representative of the Irish Government, it’s always a great source of pride to attend events around the world for St Patrick’s Day and to see first-hand the achievements of our diaspora community and the love they still hold for Ireland.

“It’s that connection to home that makes the Irish community so impactful across the world and has been clearly evident to me in Philadelphia.”

He went on to describe Ireland’s relationship with the US as “one of our most important”.

“From famine relief to the long road toward peace in Northern Ireland, to more recent challenges such as Brexit and its consequences, Irish America has never forgotten Ireland and has been a consistent champion and supporter of our island,” he added.

Later, the Taoiseach will travel to Washington DC ahead of a meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday and the annual Shamrock Ceremony.

Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is also set to go to Washington to engage with the President, while First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Fein politicians are boycotting the White House.

Pressed about his meeting with Trump, the Taoiseach said the “fundamental core objective” is to “reflect and pay tribute to the generations of Irish people who came to America, who helped to build America and continue to make an enormous contribution to American society”.

“I have no doubt we will discuss global issues but also economic relationships between the US and Ireland, the US and Europe, and cultural issues also,” he said.

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, who attended the Taoiseach’s address at Villanova University on Saturday, said people in the US also debate the best approaches on dealing with Trump.

The Democratic representative for Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district said: “It’s always best to promote what it is that you think the person you are talking with is interested in.

“The president is obviously very interested in economic interests around the world, and I’m quite sure the Taoiseach is prepared to address that.

“There is a fair amount of dissent within the US about that as well (broaching concerns around the war in Iran) so I’m not sure I’m in a good position to advise the Taoiseach about that.

“The president is a very volatile actor, and I’m sure in the moment he (Taoiseach) will do just fine.”

Asked about views of Trump’s administration around the world, Ms Scanlon said: “I think Americans are concerned as well, and I would suggest that there is a big difference between what is happening in the White House and what is happening among the American people, and we’re seeing that every day as there are local elections that the American people are rejecting the course that this White House is taking.”