Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that Ireland stands to gain economically if the United Kingdom secures a favorable trade deal with the United States. Speaking at the conclusion of his St. Patrick’s visit to the U.S., Martin emphasized that any economic boost for the UK would likely have a positive knock-on effect for Ireland, given the strong trade relationship between the two nations.
While acknowledging that discussions on a UK-US agreement were still in the early stages, the Taoiseach stressed that engagement on international trade policy is a matter for the European Union rather than Ireland acting independently.
“The situation in terms of UK-US is not clear yet,” he told reporters. “But from the Irish point of view, I take a general view that if the UK does well, Ireland will do well economically, because that economic relationship is very important.”
Ireland, he added, is actively working with the EU to ease post-Brexit trade barriers with the UK, particularly regarding Northern Ireland, which remains subject to EU customs rules to maintain an open border with the Republic.
Martin also highlighted the recent UK-Ireland summit in Liverpool, describing it as a step toward greater Anglo-Irish cooperation, particularly in offshore wind energy production.
O’Neill’s White House Boycott a ‘Big Mistake’ – Martin
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach criticized Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill for boycotting the annual St. Patrick’s events in Washington, D.C., calling it a “big mistake.”
O’Neill, a Sinn Féin leader, declined to attend the White House celebrations in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She cited Washington’s response to the situation in Gaza as the reason for her absence, arguing that she could not participate while the U.S. administration was “threatening to annex and steal” Palestinian land.
While O’Neill did travel to Carolina last week for a business event, she returned home instead of attending the high-profile meetings in Washington. In contrast, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) attended and met with President Trump at a Capitol Hill lunch. Other parties, including the Alliance Party and the SDLP, also boycotted the White House gathering.
Martin argued that O’Neill’s decision was not in Northern Ireland’s best interests. “I do think it was a big mistake,” he said in an interview with the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme. “Huge efforts were made at the beginning of the peace process to facilitate Sinn Féin, and a lot of people put a lot of effort into that.”
He added that the boycott was “opportunistic” and did not serve the broader interests of Northern Ireland or the island as a whole.
In response, a Sinn Féin spokesperson defended O’Neill’s absence, stating that the decision was made with a “conscious responsibility to call out injustice.” The party reiterated its solidarity with the Palestinian people and said it could not ignore recent U.S. statements regarding the crisis in Gaza.
Despite the controversy, Martin remained focused on strengthening Ireland’s economic and diplomatic ties, particularly in the wake of Brexit and evolving international trade discussions.
