The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has arrived in Washington ahead of his meeting with Us President Donald Trump at the White House.
He has pledged to use his annual St Patrick’s Day trip to sell Ireland as an ideal location for international business and investment.
His arrival was delayed due to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement finalised between the UK and the EU on Monday night.
The agreement was rejected by the House of Commons last night.
Mr Varadkar has yet to comment publicly on the vote, however he is expected to do so when he meets representatives of the Dublin and Belfast Chambers of Commerce later today.
File photo of the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presenting US President Donald Trump with the bowl of shamrock, 15-03-2018. Image: Niall Carson/PA Archive/PA ImagesWomen in America
He will also meet Irish companies expanding their operations in the US and visit an exhibition on Irish Women in America before attending the American Ireland Fund Gala Dinner.
Irish companies employ more than 100,000 US workers, and US firms with Irish operations employ 155,000 people.
Tomorrow he will go for breakfast with US Vice President Mike Pence before visiting President Trump at the White House.
Government officials have said he will emphasise the strength of Irish-US ties, the important role of the US in supporting peace in Ireland and firmly outline Ireland’s position on Brexit.
It is unclear whether Mr Varadkar’s bilateral meeting with President Trump will open to the media – after news organisations were controversially blocked from attending last year.
Varadkar
On Friday the Taoiseach travels to Chicago for a series of engagements, ending with him marching in the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.
With reporting from Shane Beatty in Washington ...
