Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 March 2025
3. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the persons the Government requested be invited to the White House this year for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations; and to provide a list of guests put forward by the Government. [14496/25]
View answer4. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach for a list of all public servants, civil servants and Irish political party representatives who were part of the Government delegation to the White House for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. [14497/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
I was accompanied to my meeting with President Trump in the White House on 12 March by my Chief of Staff, the Secretary General of my Department, an Assistant Secretary General, a Principal Officer, the Government Press Secretary as well as by Ireland’s Ambassador to the US and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Irish Embassy. I was also accompanied by my Private Secretary and two security officers.
Also on 12 March, the President also hosted a reception, at which I presented him with the traditional bowl of shamrock. I was accompanied to this by my wife and by my delegation.
The President invites the guests to this reception, and it is not the practice for the names of those invited to such events to be made public. In keeping with custom on previous occasions, I was invited by the White House, as a courtesy, to propose a number of guests to attend the reception at the President’s invitation. I proposed 45 such guests.
