Taoiseach Simon Harris has described his meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House as "very good".
The two leaders met in Washington to mark the centenary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States. The US was the first country to recognise Irish Independence.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Mr Harris said they had an opportunity to reflect on Ireland's diplomatic relations with the United States for the last 100 years.
Mr Harris said Hurricane Milton which has made landfall was also among the topics discussed, as well as Northern Ireland, Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
"The President and I also had an opportunity to talk about Northern Ireland, talk about the fact that the institutions are back up and running," Mr Harris said.
"I had an opportunity to brief him on the reset in Anglo/Irish relations that myself and Prime Minister [Kier] Starmer have under way and how I believe that will bring practical benefits for people across our island and across the two islands.
"We specifically discussed the issue of legacy, an issue which I know President Biden is deeply committed to, in terms of making sure that we have a mechanism for families in Northern Ireland, for victims to have truth, reconciliation and justice and I reiterated my view and the Irish Government's view that the current Legacy Act is not compatible with human rights and the current Legacy Act needs to be repealed and replaced.
"I acknowledged Prime Minister Starmer's work in relation to that and our wish to work with him on that."
In relation to Ukraine, Mr Harris said that they "discussed the thuggery of Putin" and how it has resulted in a real defence and security issue in many countries in Eastern Europe.
"The president thanked the people of Ireland for their contribution to Ukraine in terms of the number of people who have come to Ireland fleeing the war that Putin has unnecessarily started, caused and is executing in Ukraine to this day," Mr Harris said.
On matters in the Middle East, Mr Harris said he thanked President Biden for his assistance on Monday last, when they spoke by phone.
While he was travelling to the US, the Taoiseach learned that Israeli military units which had taken up position about 100 metres from an Irish manned UNIFIL observation post in south Lebanon, had withdrawn.
Both President Biden and the Secretary General of the United Nations had asked Israel to leave the UN peacekeepers alone.
"I was very concerned, as was the Government, in relation to the safety of our peacekeepers at an outpost in which the IDF had come extraordinary close to," Mr Harris told reporters following his meeting with Mr Biden.
"I acknowledged the work of President Biden and the United Nations in conveying that message in the strongest terms to Israel and I appreciate that."
President Biden and Taoiseach in the Oval Office (on a hectic day for the President). pic.twitter.com/9QxEEOX4Az
— seanwhelanRTE (@seanwhelanRTE) October 9, 2024
Before the meeting, Mr Harris said he spoke to both President Biden and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday and said he asked "both of them to highlight to Israel the seriousness of this situation and the fact that peacekeeping and peacekeepers must, of course, be protected even in war, even in conflict."
The Taoiseach said that currently the IDF is not in the vicinity of the Irish position in Lebanon, adding that he wanted to "assure our peacekeepers and most particularly their families, that we remain very vigilant in relation to this issue."
He said that both Mr Biden and Mr Guterres "made it very clear to me that they would make Ireland's protest heard in relation to this matter."
Mr Harris said there are clear UN resolutions in relation to this situation and "any incursion or infringement in relation to that has to be called out, and called out at the highest level.".
The Taoiseach also said he had not had any direct contact from the Israeli government in relation to the Irish observation post.
Centenary celebrations
With the situation in the Middle East dominating international politics, and the imminent arrival of another very powerful hurricane in the south eastern United States dominating US domestic politics, marking 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States may not seem the most pressing matter. And it is also clearly more important to Ireland.
However President Biden insisted on going ahead with an Oval Office meeting with the Taoiseach, even though he had to stand down plans for a diplomatic reception as well.
The Taoiseach said: "We shouldn't brush over the 100 years of diplomatic relations. It is a milestone, a very important milestone, and one worth marking. We have the most Irish of Irish Americans in the Oval Office. And it is important that we come together to acknowledge the 100 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, the benefits of that is seen to both our nations, from an economic point of view, from cultural point of view, from person to person point of view."
Mr Harris described the relationship between the US and Ireland as a forward looking one.
In relation to the Middle East, Mr Harris said that the Biden administration has been working intensively to try and bring about a ceasefire.
"But everywhere I go, I make the point that everybody says they want a ceasefire, but to date, the world has failed to bring about a ceasefire," he added.
"I've no doubt from my conversation with President Biden on Monday...from conversations with him previously, and indeed, from his public commentary, he too, wants a ceasefire. I really would welcome any insight from him - and of course, colleagues right across the world - as to what more they're going to do to help bring about that ceasefire."
Mr Harris said it is a dark moment for the world.
He said what happened on 7 October 2023 has been rightly condemned by Ireland and that Israel has a right to live in safety and security, but so does Palestine.
"And I think the terrible tragedy of the time we're living through right now is in the Middle East, the huge loss of civilian life, the disproportionate impact of conflict at war on civilians, particularly children. And I know that the Middle East really is at a moment of great jeopardy, and I look forward to having an opportunity to discuss that with President Biden".
Corporation tax
Part of today's commemorative meeting on the diplomatic centenary was to have included a reception for 300 people in the White House Rose garden, but this was postponed by President Biden on Monday due to Hurricane Milton, which was estimated to impact Florida’s west coast at about the time the reception was planned to take place.
The President phoned the Taoiseach on Monday and said he would be unable to hold the reception because of the seriousness of the situation.
Yesterday he announced he was also postponing a visit to Germany for a meeting on the Ukraine war, and to Angola, for a long promised visit to Africa to boost investment there.
At the weekend, former President Donald Trump told a campaign rally in Pennsylvania that if re-elected he plans to cut corporation tax to 15% but only for companies that relocate their businesses back into the United States. Should Ireland be worried? the Taoiseach was reluctant to comment.
"I'm always very conscious this close to a US presidential election, not to not to comment on the specifics of what one candidate says or doesn't say, other then to make the broader point that Ireland, through successive administrations, Republican presidents, Democratic presidents, Ireland has continued to grow its investment, grow its trade with the United States of America. And it is now that two way relationship.
"And what I would say, respectfully, to former President Trump, is that there are many Irish companies in the United States of America - In fact, in every state in the United States of America today - creating jobs and opportunities for American people, just like there are many large American companies located in Ireland.
"And the Irish offering goes well beyond corporation tax - that's very much something of the past in terms of that being the key part of the offering. The reality is companies that locate in Ireland know that they're getting access to the European Union, know that they're locating in the only English speaking country in the eurozone and the EU, and know they can rely on a talented workforce as well. And also know that they're locating in a country that has a proud track record when it comes to the ecosystem that business requires," Mr Harris said.
