Northern Ireland First Minister hopes Taoiseach will be "very firm" with Trump on Palestine

Michelle O'Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Vice President of Sinn Féin, answered questions about her decision not to attend St. Patrick's Day events in Washington, DC this year in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, March 3.

O'Neill, alongside Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, announced on February 21 that they won't be attending "in response to the call for the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza." 

O'Neill later defended her decision, saying "I couldn’t in all conscience make that trip at this time."

The announcement came amidst calls for politicians across the island of Ireland to boycott the annual events in Washington, DC due to the US response in Gaza. Similar boycott calls were made last year during the Biden administration.

The calls for a boycott intensified after US President Donald Trump said he would like to see the people of Gaza "resettled" in other countries, such as Jordan or Egypt, and that the "US will take over Gaza."

Prior to Sinn Féin, the SDLP in Northern Ireland and People Before Profit in Ireland had both announced that they would not be attending.

In the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, O'Neill fielded several questions relating to St. Patrick's Day in the US.

"Take the opportunity to drive home the message"

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll asked O'Neill if she would "join the calls" to say that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris should also not go to the White House. Martin confirmed last week that he received an invitation and would be attending, while Harris will be visiting Philadelphia and New York.

Despite boycotting this year's events, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has said that if she were Taoiseach, she would be making the visit.

O'Neill reiterated that her decision not to go to Washington, DC this year was hers alone, and one she did not take lightly. She also said she is "comfortable" with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly's decision to "travel to be part of the White House reception and other events this year," noting that that is "entirely her call."

O'Neill continued: "The Taoiseach is a different offering insofar as the Taoiseach is uniquely in a position where he will have the opportunity to engage directly with the US president.

"That is an opportunity that he has to take, because only he will have the opportunity to have that one-on-one time.

"Perhaps he can — I hope that he does — take the opportunity to drive home the message about the depth of feeling right across Ireland on what is happening in Palestine and on the recent commentary by the US Administration in particular on the taking of Palestinian lands and the removal of the Palestinian people off their lands.

"The fact that they have moved away from a two-state solution, which is a solution that we all want to see achieved, is something that he needs to be very firm on in any engagement with the US president."

Taoiseach Micheal Martin. (RollingNews.ie)

Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong then asked O'Neill to confirm what invitations she and Little-Pengelly have received for the week around St. Patrick's Day.

O'Neill said the invitations received as of Monday include the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action leadership forum; the Ireland Funds national gala; the US Speaker's luncheon; the Washington Ireland Programme (WIP); and the Ulster University breakfast event.

She added that the White House reception invite was received "late Saturday night."

"This is not about politics"

SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin asked O'Neill if she regretted attending St. Patrick's Day events in the US last year.

O'Neill said she didn't, noting that "the fundamental difference is that the US Administration have now moved away from what was a united two-state solution that we all want to see — peace and security for the Palestinians and peace and security for the Israelis.

"We want to see that solution found, and the only way that you will do that is by having dialogue and involving all partners.

"Unfortunately, that is not the view of this US Administration and this new president. They have taken a decision to move towards the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people, they have taken a decision to seize Palestinian lands, and they have taken a decision to move away from that united position of a two-state solution.

"Therefore, for me, at this time, this is not about politics but about humanity and about doing the right thing."

The White House on St. Patrick's Day in 2024. (Getty Images)

Nurturing Northern Ireland's "strong roots in the US"

When asked by DUP MLA Alan Robinson if she agrees that it is "crucial" to have good relations with the US administration, no matter which party is in the White House, O'Neill said: "We can do more than one thing at once. I can take the principled stance that I believe in, but I also believe in our strong roots in the US."

After acknowledging that it is important to "nurture" those roots for Northern Ireland's economic prosperity, O'Neill added: "It is also important that we continue to look for opportunities for our economy.

"That is why, over the next week, the deputy First Minister and I will be in North Carolina on what will be very much an economic mission.

"Alongside that, our Economy Minister will be in Boston and New York with Invest NI. That is, again, about drumming up trade and saying that we are very much open for business.

"We can continue to further our economic links — grow our economy, create jobs and investment, and do all such things — while, on this occasion, I take the principled position that I have."