US President Donald Trump's measures on US pharmaceutical companies operating in Ireland remains "somewhat uncertain", Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Mr Martin is continuing his St Patrick's week visit to the US, with an intensive day of trade promotion and business investment meetings in Washington DC.
Speaking to reports in Washington, Mr Martin said: "A lot remains to be seen in terms of how this manifests itself, in terms of specific US legislation or mechanism or tax or whatever. It's all somewhat uncertain and unclear in relation to that.
"But suffice to say that the investment in Ireland is very solid, deeply embedded, and plays a huge role in the overall architecture of these pharmaceutical companies in terms of their broader business offering, and particularly their access to the European market and their access to the Asian markets, for which the Irish base has been particularly important."
Day four of his trip is involving meeting a number of US multinationals, as well as Irish firms doing business in the US.
The Taoiseach's visit to the White House yesterday concluded with the traditional shamrock bowl event, before an invited audience which included dancer Michael Flatley, and Robert F Kennedy Junior, the US Health Secretary.
Mr Martin praised US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine, saying there was nothing more noble than the pursuit of peace.
Mr Trump said as a New Yorker, no one knew the Irish better than him. He said many members of his cabinet who were in the room had Irish heritage, including Mr Kennedy and Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation.
"We're always going to have that special friendship," he said.
Both leaders' remarks were similar to those heard earlier at the lunch hosted on Capitol Hill by Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnston and the Congressional Friends of Ireland caucus.
The main event - an Oval Office meeting between the Taoiseach and the President started with a near hour-long press event, during which the President fielded a wide range of questions about US domestic and foreign policies, and about Ireland.
He was very critical of the huge trade surplus in pharmaceutical products Ireland has because it hosts many leading US companies in the sector.
But he said he did not blame the Irish for making a success - he blamed previous presidents for doing what he called bad deals.
He was also critical of the European Commission, and said there would be reciprocal tariffs on EU exports to America from April on.
Despite the contentious subject matter, the meeting appeared cordial, more business than personal, with the president repeatedly saying how much he likes Ireland and the Irish.
Today, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Research Ireland are hosting an investor conference at a Washington hotel, where the Taoiseach was due to take part in a number of events to promote transatlantic business opportunities.
He started the day with a breakfast meeting with a new Strategic Economic Advisory Panel of US-based business leaders.
Later he will attend the Ireland Funds gala dinner as the keynote speaker. The black tie event will raise over €1 million for work in cross border community development.
The visit comes amid heightened concern around the US administration's protectionist approach to tariffs and tax, which could pose a significant risk to the Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals.
Mr Trump said yesterday he does not want "to do anything to hurt Ireland" but added that the trade relationship between the countries should be focused on "fairness".
While levelling accusations against Ireland and the EU, Mr Trump said Ireland is "of course" taking advantage of the US.
"There's a massive deficit that we have with Ireland and with other countries too, and we want to sort of even that out as nicely as we can, and we'll work together," he told reporters.
He accused the Government of "taking" US pharmaceutical companies through attractive taxation measures and criticised the EU's ruling that found that Apple owes Ireland billions of euro in taxes.
Mr Martin told him that US pharmaceutical companies "are doing very well in Ireland" and there was a "two-way" economic partnership between the countries.
The Taoiseach also hailed the president's efforts on peace in Gaza and Ukraine and said he "hoped" Mr Trump would return to visit Ireland.
Meanwhile, four members of Enoch Burke's family staged a silent protest near the White House yesterday, to protest what they called the denial of religious liberty in Ireland.
Holding signs that read 'St Patricks Day - no Religious Freedom in Ireland’, Mr Burke’s parents, a sister and brother stood in front of a permanent secret service barricade at the 1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, about 200 metres from the entrance gates of the White House, just in front of the Eisenhower Executive Building where many White House staffers work.
Additional reporting PA
