Sir, – The Taoiseach who, because of the workings of the democratic system, happens to be Micheál Martin, has been invited to visit the president of the United States, also a democracy. A meeting between the two representatives will be held in a house owned by the American people, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500, that over the years has come to be known as the White House.
Our Taoiseach will not be visiting a person called Donald Trump. He will be visiting all the citizens of the United States, a body that includes many millions who are appalled at the behaviour of the person the democratic system happens to have served up as their leader for the time being and until the next presidential election.
It includes those who are prepared to protest at the activities of the immigration thugs and, in so doing, place their lives on the line as was demonstrated in Minnesota recently. It includes the large Irish diaspora, both “documented” and not.
It includes the many thousands who come here every year as tourists, even though they might have no historical connections and, yes, it includes the shareholders and managers of the multinational companies that are participating in the mutually beneficial activity known as foreign direct investment.
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For our Taoiseach to reject the invitation on March 17th would be simplistic, precedent-breaking, counterproductive and, at bottom, an empty gesture. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS MCKENNA,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – When Taoiseach Micheál Martin goes to Washington DC to meet US president Donald Trump, there is one topic which he mustn’t avoid out of any misplaced sense of caution: that topic is Palestine.
The complete failure over decades to ensure Palestinian self-determination and justice for a people whose homeland has been invaded, whose people have been scattered and which is unlawfully occupied, is at the heart of violence and conflict throughout the Middle East/western Asia, including the current war on Iran.
Until such time as the United States acknowledges this and works to correct a grave injustice there will be no peace in the region.
Avoiding this topic with Trump may be the easy option, but it certainly isn’t the right option. As Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said in a speech on January 22nd, “without values, none of this matters”. – Yours, etc,
ÉAMONN MEEHAN,
Chair, Sadaka-The Ireland Palestine Alliance,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – We in Ireland have an opportunity this St Patrick’s Day to show to the world our abhorrence of current wars that are now affecting the global economy and increasing poverty worldwide by cancelling the annual visit by the Taoiseach and Government Ministers to capitals and other cities around the world.
Would it not be more appropriate and indeed effective for the Government Ministers led by An Taoiseach to march down O’Connell Street in The St Patrick’s Day parade under a peace banner?
It would also spare An Taoiseach, representing muintir na hÉireann, another humiliation in the White House. – Yours, etc,
JOHN MICHAEL Ó DOMHNAILL,
Ardara,
Co Donegal.
