Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the Ireland-US relationship "is not just rooted in people-to-people ties", but also "in an economic partnership that supports jobs, investment and opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic", ahead of his St Patrick's Day meeting with US President Donald Trump tomorrow.
Mr Martin turned his attention to business engagements in Washington DC today after a weekend of mostly cultural engagements in Philadelphia.
This morning, he met and spoke with representatives of major Irish and American firms while attending an Amazon and Enterprise Ireland breakfast event at the Dupont Hotel with Ireland's Ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason, and US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh.
The Taoiseach then gave a speech at the St Patrick’s Day Business Leaders Luncheon, where he said that more than 800 US firms operate in Ireland, adding "many of them the biggest names in business" who "have found a strategic European base from which to reach their global potential".
He said it was a "two-way street" as Ireland is now the fifth largest investor in the United States.
The Taoiseach is also scheduled to take part in a Fox News interview with chief political anchor Bret Baier, as preparations continue for tomorrow’s high-profile political meetings with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Mr Martin is also set to continue the annual tradition of the Taoiseach presenting the US leader with a bowl of shamrock to mark St Patrick's Day.
Mr Martin said that he was looking forward to the meeting with Mr Trump.
"We’re confident in our contribution to America on a number of fronts ..." he said.
"Life is unpredictable. Politics is unpredictable. I’m enjoying what I’m doing today and I’m focused on the functions I have today ... and we’ll take tomorrow as it comes," he said.
Asked later whether he had any concerns that his meeting with Mr Trump would be similar to the experience of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mr Martin said: "No, not at all.
"Let's reflect. This is a week in which what we’re essentially doing - and we have been doing for many, many years - is honouring, affirming, a very historic relationship between United States and Ireland that goes back to the very foundation of the US itself, in terms of the Declaration of Independence, the War of Independence here, and the role that the Irish played 250 years ago - a role that was very significant.
"Then, over the succeeding generations - post-famine and so on - huge numbers came to these shores."
In response to Mr Trump's call for a coalition of allies to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which has so far been resisted by other European countries, Mr Martin said that joining such an effort would not be on Ireland's agenda.
"We’re not [a] military power. We don’t have that offensive military capacity in any shape or form" he said.
"We’re not members of NATO. Obviously there’s a conversation going on within NATO and between NATO countries, and that’s a matter for them to resolve" he said.
"Our view is that we need a peaceful resolution of this, and we need [it] collectively. I think there is obviously huge concern about the economic implications globally, energy price increases and so on."
Asked if he was concerned that anti-war comments by Irish President Catherine Connolly in her St Patrick's Day message would be brought to the attention of Mr Trump, Mr Martin said: "I don't feel under pressure at all in that respect.
"Successive Irish governments have pursued and supported a rules-based approach to global conflict."
Mr Martin said there are "many wars in the world" currently and that the "horrendous conflict in Sudan" had "received precious little attention" in global commentary.
He added: "We have a terrible war now in the Middle East, we have a lot of authoritarian regimes around the world, persecuting people, killing people, imprisoning people.
"So the world is in a very challenging situation – and no-one likes war.
"We certainly don't as a country and we want a pacific resolution to these issues."
Hundreds of guests, including Mr Martin, are due to attend the Ireland Funds National Gala tonight, which will take place at the National Building Museum in Washington DC.
The organisation is celebrating 50 years and 250 years of the relationship between Ireland and the United States.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be honoured at the event along with Democratic Whip in the US House of Representatives Katherine Clark.
McGregor represents 'the very worst of us' - Tánaiste
Meanwhile, speaking about reports that former MMA fighter Conor McGregor is in Washington, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that it is up to the US who it lets in or not, but added that he believes Mr McGregor represents "the very worst of us".
Speaking to reporters in London, he said:
"Today we're celebrating Jessie Buckley, someone who represents the best of Ireland, an incredible person who's shattered a glass ceiling, the first Irish woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars, an incredible ambassador for our country.
"Nobody needs any advice from me, but tomorrow is a celebration of Irishness, of our values, of inclusion, of the best of us.
"And when I think of the best of us, I don't think of Conor McGregor."
'Irish men and women were present at the founding of this great Republic'
Mr Martin was cheered at an event yesterday at Ireland's Ambassador to the United States' residence as he congratulated the national rugby team on winning the Six Nations Triple Crown at the weekend.
He said he would add his thanks to England for "doing their very, very best to enable us to win the championship", with reference to their narrow defeat to France, which saw Ireland miss out on the Six Nations title.
Mr Martin arrived in the US capital yesterday evening, where he was marking the contribution of Irish people to the building of the country 250 years on from the signing of the Declaration of Independence and taking part in the Pennsylvanian city's St Patrick's Day parade.
Yesterday, Irish Ambassador Ms Byrne Nason formally introduced the Taoiseach to a audience of hundreds of guests, including Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Ms Byrne Nason hailed the last two days in Philadelphia with Mr Martin, seeing "more of that green thread woven through the great tapestry of the great United States from the very, very beginning" and the "forever romance between Ireland and the United States".
"It covers our politics, our culture, our history, our business and, most importantly, our peoples, that relationship between the United States and Ireland is enduring," she said.
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More than shamrock on offer for Taoiseach's White House meeting
Mr Martin said celebrating St Patrick's Day across the Atlantic carries particular resonance as the US marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
He said: "For Ireland the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is not simply an American anniversary, it reflects a shared history - Irish men and women were present at the founding of this great Republic.
"They served in American armies, worked in America's cities, contributed to its great debates and helped to inspire its dreams of a brighter tomorrow.
"The Irish helped to build the railroads, schools, churches and the very communities that shaped this great nation, from the earliest days to today, Irish hands and Irish hearts have helped to build America."
He said Ireland's own journey to independence was "inspired by the very noble ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence".
He added "America played a decisive role in supporting peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland."
"The Good Friday Agreement stands as one of the great diplomatic achievements of our shared history, shaped and sustained by American engagement," the Taoiseach said.
"The story of Ireland and the United States is not static; it is living, it is evolving, it is being written every day by the people in this room, and as we look forward, we do so with confidence, we look to the next great chapter in the enduring bond between Ireland and the United States," he added.
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows was also among guests.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP leader Claire Hanna have said they will not attend events with Mr Trump in the White House this St Patrick's Day as part of a stance against his policies, including in the Middle East.
The Taoiseach has so far stressed the importance of the relationship between Ireland and the US and has highlighted trade and investment between the two nations.
Ireland is now the fifth largest source of foreign direct investment in the US.
Speaking in Philadelphia yesterday, Mr Martin said that Shannon airport is not being used by US planes involved in bombing campaigns in Iran.
He said there had been repeated attempts to conflate Shannon with both the war in Gaza and the current war in Iran, which were absolutely false.
Mr Martin added there were established rules in terms of the utilisation of Irish airspace and insisted that "we haven't had any strong evidence that our airspace is being used for any attacks on Iran".
Additional reporting: PA
