Taoiseach Micheál Martin is travelling to the United States later for a series of events to mark St Patrick's Day.
The Taoiseach's official visit begins tomorrow in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with political, economic and Irish community engagements, before travelling to Washington DC for the traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Mr Martin will hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday in the White House.
Opposition parties have urged the Taoiseach to call out President Trump on the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald previously called on the Taoiseach to directly condemn the US-Israeli strikes without qualification, asking him in the Dáil last week to state clearly that they were in breach of international law
The Labour Party said the failure of the Government to call out and condemn what it called illegal strikes across the Middle East was "shameful".
But the Government has stopped short of labelling the operation as being in breach of international law, calling instead for de-escalation of the conflict.
The White House St Patrick’s Day reception, including the traditional shamrock gifting ceremony, will take place on the evening of 17 March.
The Taoiseach will present President Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl, extending St Patrick’s Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the United States.
Speaking before his departure from Cork, the Taoiseach said:
"St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to recognise Ireland’s global community and the enduring connections that link people of Irish heritage around the world.
"The relationship between Ireland and the United States is one of our most enduring, rooted in history and exemplified by the roles so many Irish immigrants played in the pursuit of American independence some 250 years ago.
"I expect there will also be an opportunity to discuss global matters, including how Ireland and the EU can work with the United States to reach peaceful resolutions in the Middle East and Ukraine."
