The clumsy association of St Patrick's Day celebrations and alcohol by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has received a surprisingly sharp rebuke from Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
In Washington DC ahead of his bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama today, Mr Kenny said he rejected the "stage Irish" image of Irish people on St Patrick's Day and was frank about how he disagreed with his Australian counterpart.
Mr Abbott was widely criticised recently for his theatrical video message to Irish ex-pats in Australia in which he mentioned drinking Guinness and made a big deal of the fact he was wearing a green tie. "I'm sorry I can't be there to share a Guinness or two, or maybe even three, but like you I do rejoice in St Patrick's Day," he said.
Mr Kenny was speaking to reporters on Monday after attending a private meeting at the US Chamber of Commerce on Washington's H Street, within view of the White House.
“There has been a long-term view of a stage Irish perception. I reject that. I think it’s really important that we understand that we have a national day that can be celebrated worldwide, St Patrick’s Day,” Mr Kenny said. “And I think it’s important that people enjoy that celebration but that they do it in a responsible fashion.”
Minimum pricing
Asked for his views on Mr Abbott’s video, Mr Kenny said he did not agree with the views expressed. “I’ve heard the Prime Minister’s comment. He made them. I don’t agree with that.
“I think that it’s perfectly in order for so many Irish people in Australia to have a very enjoyable celebration of St Patrick’s Day and St Patrick’s week and to do so in a thoroughly responsible fashion.”
He said the Government intended to introduce a minimum pricing order for alcohol at the same time as it was introduced in Northern Ireland.
No budget giveaway
The Taoiseach also insisted the next budget will not be a “giveaway”. The State needed to build up financial reserves, or “buffers”, in order to deal with any external “shocks” that might occur, Mr Kenny said. His comments come in the wake of Tánaiste Joan Burton’s objection to the European Commission’s limiting the scope for Government generosity in October.
Mr Kenny had just met the president and chief executive of the US Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohoe, who was later honoured at the American Ireland Fund dinner. Business representatives also attended the behind-closed-doors meeting.
The US Chamber of Commerce’s previous objection to Mr Kenny’s Government’s plan to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes was not raised, the Taoiseach said.
1916 commemoration
Mr Kenny also announced a three-week Irish arts festival in the US to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
“While 1916 will be the point of departure, the emphasis will be very strongly on the journey and the point of arrival,” he said.
The events will take place at the Kennedy Centre. Mr Kenny, who described former US president John F Kennedy as “one of the greatest Irish Americans”, said he could not think of a more appropriate venue “to celebrate our heritage and our history”.
