There is "no indication yet" that US President Donald Trump will officially visit Ireland this year, the Taoiseach has said.
Micheál Martin was speaking after President Trump’s son Eric Trump told the Sunday Independent that his father is "making plans to be in Doonbeg in September" for the Irish Open.
"We will be meeting in March... very often the President's schedule is a very tight one, but there's nothing confirmed or anything like that," Mr Martin said before speaking at the National Holocaust Memorial Commemoration in Dublin.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said that the time for appeasing President Trump is over and it is "utterly chilling to see what is happening on the streets of the United States".
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, she said that Mr Trump is using "rule by executive order" and committing "outrageous" breaches of international law.
"We need to see the Government stepping up and taking protective measures," she said.
"The Taoiseach should not go to Washington in six weeks time, if at that point Trump is still threatening Europe."
Ms Bacik added it was hard to envisage Mr Martin presenting President Trump with shamrock in March.
She said Ireland needs to be conscious of risks from global shocks, but added "strength works against bullies".
Ms Bacik said the State needs to diversify its industrial base, build up infrastructure and introduce a scheme to protect workers facing temporary layoffs from US companies based in the country.
Read more: Govt preparing for politically-tricky White House visit
Minister of State for Rural and Community Development Jerry Buttimer said that whether President Trump visits Ireland is a matter for him.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, he said Mr Trump is entitled to visit and added it would follow in the tradition of other US presidents.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny said that his party would protest a visit from President Trump.
Mr Kenny said the party would be protesting over Mr Trump’s policies on Gaza and Greenland.
"Donald Trump’s position on many things have run foul of what is acceptable, not just for world order but for ordinary people," he said.
Mr Kenny also said that the Taoiseach needs to be "firm" and speak "truth to power" if he goes to the White House for St Patrick’s Day.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said Ireland cannot rely on its relationship with the US, as things have changed to an "unimaginable position".
She added that the Government needs to be proactive in building further relationships internationally.
"Micheál Martin is going to have to be clear with Mr Trump," Ms Whitmore said.
