THE GOVERNMENT jet carrying Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to the US for St Patrick’s Day events was due to land at Andrews Air Force base early this morning.
The high point of Mr Kenny’s stay in Washington will be a meeting in the Oval Office with President Barack Obama tomorrow and the White House reception in the evening. The Taoiseach is also expected to meet US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, a central figure in the US economy, this afternoon.
Ambassador Michael Collins called the visit “a celebration of the relationship at the highest levels . . . part of a wonderful tradition” which “coincides with the Taoiseach’s first week in office . . . a new mandate, a new government and a strong, fresh message”.
Mr Kenny will brief Mr Obama on Ireland’s efforts to work out its economic difficulties. The two will discuss the issues of the day, including Libya and North Africa.
The Taoiseach will host an economic lunch for 200 people today. Most of the guests will be clients of Enterprise Ireland from the Washington area.
Mr Kenny will also meet Democrat governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland and Republican governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia. The leaders of the states surrounding the District of Columbia are Irish-Americans with roots in the west of Ireland. Mr O’Malley’s family are from Co Galway; Mr McDonnell’s from Co Mayo.
This evening, the Taoiseach will make a speech at the American Ireland Fund’s gala for 800 people, where Mr O’Malley will receive a distinguished leadership award.
Mr Kenny and his wife Fionnuala will start St Patrick’s Day with breakfast at the Naval Observatory, the official residence of US vice-president Joe Biden. From there, the Taoiseach will go to the White House for his meeting with Mr Obama. Mr Kenny will then be guest of honour at lunch in the Capitol, hosted by Republican speaker of the house John Boehner.
After lunch tomorrow, Mr Kenny will call on Democrat senator Patrick Leahy, who is the third most senior member of the US Senate and the pre-eminent Irish-American senator.
The president, vice-president and Taoiseach will speak at the White House reception in the evening, after which Mr Kenny will present the president with the traditional bowl of shamrock. At the invitation of Mr and Mrs Obama, the National Chamber Choir of Ireland will sing the premiere performance of Bill Whelan’s specially commissioned Gné na Gaeltachta.
Asked whether he expects an announcement regarding a visit by Mr Obama to Ireland, Mr Collins noted that Mr Kenny renewed his invitation on the telephone last Friday. “They indicated they’ll discuss that further,” he said.
Mr Gilmore was to travel from Washington to New York this morning. He will participate in several economic events, and attend the 250th New York St Patrick’s Day parade before returning to Washington for a meeting with the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Friday morning.