Taoiseach Simon Harris has expressed hopes that a "very lengthy" discussion between US President Joe Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will yield "significant results" in efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Middle East.
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 discussed a number of topics, including the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Hurricane Milton and undocumented Irish in America.
The meeting at the Oval Office, which lasted just under an hour, was described by the Taoiseach as "very good".
"The president briefed me on the fact that he had a very lengthy conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel today," Mr Harris told reporters.
"It is for President Biden to speak to that and his administration, but he left me in no doubt that this was a conversation of substance and of depth in terms of actions that Israel needs to take in terms of aid, humanitarian aid, in terms of bringing about a ceasefire.
"He left me in absolutely no doubt about the redoubling of efforts by his own administration and others to try and bring about a ceasefire.
"He left me in no doubt that he sees a two-state solution as the only way forward in terms of bringing peace and stability to the region.
"And of course, while everybody accepts that Israel has a right to defend itself, I'm very clear that what's happening now is certainly not in that space."
Read more: How Irish-US diplomatic relations began 100 years ago this week
Mr Harris said he made it clear to President Biden, the position of the Irish people and the Irish Government when it comes to Gaza.
"We know what it is like here in Ireland to not feel seen by the world. That we know what it is like to have our national identity hijacked by a terrorist organisation because of course Palestine is not Hamas," he said.
"Hamas is a despicable terrorist organisation and the terrorist attack they carried out on Israel on 7 October of last year should be condemned forever more by all right thinking people.
"But proportionality has been completely and utterly lost by the Netanyahu government and the number of civilians - particularly as I have been speaking about consistently the number of children needlessly dying - as a result of the approach taken by Netanyahu, is unacceptable."
Taoiseach was 'very concerned' over peacekeeper safety
Mr Harris said he also thanked President for his efforts to ensure the safety of Irish soldiers working as UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon close to where the Israeli military crossed the border in recent days.
While he was travelling to the US, the Taoiseach learned that Israeli military units had withdrawn from the area.
"I thanked President Biden for his assistance the other evening, on Monday evening, when we spoke by phone," he said.
"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, the intimidatory behaviour and the impact that that was having on the safety and security of our peacekeepers.
"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."
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.
Mr Harris said he also spoke to President Biden about Northern Ireland and both men had a discussion about the institutions which are "back up and running".
"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," the Taoiseach said.
"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."
President Biden and Taoiseach in the Oval Office (on a hectic day for the President). pic.twitter.com/9QxEEOX4Az
— seanwhelanRTE (@seanwhelanRTE) October 9, 2024
Diplomatic relations
Mr Harris said they had an opportunity to reflect on Ireland's diplomatic relations with the United States for the last 100 years.
He said that he also spoke about the undocumented Irish in the United States with President Biden.
"I said to the president that obviously this is an issue that the Irish Government will continue to pursue.
"I'm conscious that there's congressional and presidential elections to take place in the weeks ahead, but it's something that will remain high on the list of activities and campaigns by our embassy here in Washington."
Part of the 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.
Additional reporting Sean Whelan, Éilís Sheehy
