By Amanda Ferguson
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, announced on Friday that she would be abstaining from attending the St. Patrick’s Day festivities at the White House as a form of protest against President Donald Trump’s stance on Gaza. Traditionally, political leaders from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland travel to the United States to partake in the annual celebration of Irish culture on March 17.
Expressing her sentiments at a press conference in Dublin alongside Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of her Sinn Fein party, O’Neill stated, “We are all deeply saddened by the plight of the Palestinian people and the recent statements made by the U.S. President regarding the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, an issue that cannot be overlooked.”
She continued, “The decision to forgo the visit to the White House was not made lightly, but rather with a full awareness of the individual responsibility we each bear in denouncing injustice.” Trump’s proposal, unveiled on February 4, to have the U.S. assume control of Gaza and relocate Palestinians living there, marks a significant departure from decades of U.S. diplomacy focused on a two-state resolution.
While Ireland is represented at the White House celebrations by Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who had previously indicated his intention to address “a wide range of topics” with the U.S. President, O’Neill’s principled stand underscores her strong stance against the perceived injustices faced by the Palestinian people.
Within Ireland, a substantial portion of the workforce is employed by predominantly U.S.-owned foreign multinational corporations, contributing significantly to the funding of public services through the corporate taxes they pay. Notably, just three major U.S. companies are responsible for roughly one-eighth of the total tax revenue collected in Ireland.
(Writing by Graham Fahy; Editing by Ros Russell)
