First Minister Michelle O’Neill has announced that Sinn Féin will not participate in St Patrick’s Day events at the White House this year.
Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald announced their decision at a press conference in Dublin on Friday morning.
Usually a Sinn Féin delegation attends the White House on St Patrick’s Day, but their decision not to attend is a “principled stance in response to the call for the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza” the party says.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly confirmed on Monday that no invites have yet been issued from the White House.
It is common for political leaders from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to travel to the White House for St Patrick’s Day. Taoiseach Micheal Martin is attending on behalf of the Irish Government.
“I have taken the decision as First Minister not to attend events at the White House this year.
“The decision not to travel to the White House has not been taken lightly, but it is taken conscious of the responsibility each of us as individuals have to call out injustice.
“We are all heartbroken as we witness the suffering of the Palestinian people and the recent comments of the US President around the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza, something I cannot ignore.
“I have travelled to the US on many occasions to seek support for peace and for our economy in the face of Brexit. I have met with senior figures on Capitol Hill. I have met with successive US Presidents. I have always spoken honestly and passionately and I will always do so.
“I am fully aware of the positive impact the US can have because we have experienced it in Ireland, north and south and it has had a transformational impact. And I will continue to engage with the US – politically and economically.
“But people look to us as leaders.
“In the future, when our children and grandchildren ask me what I did while the Palestinian people endured unimaginable suffering, I can say I stood firmly on the side of humanity.”
– First Minister and Sinn Fein VP, Michelle O’Neill
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna MP announced last week that they won’t be attending the White House either.
Gavin Robinson MP, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has described Sinn Féin’s decision as “short-sighted and counterproductive”.
“The fact that Sinn Fein’s decision to boycott the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Washington, D.C was announced in Dublin speaks volumes about where Northern Ireland sits as a priority for Sinn Fein.
The DUP will be represented in DC for St Patrick’s events. We always use the opportunity to strengthen Northern Ireland’s economic and political ties with the United States, regardless of who occupies the White House. We will continue to engage with our partners in Washington, promoting Northern Ireland as a place to invest, work, and do business.
While there will always be differences of opinion on policy matters, Sinn Fein’s decision to disengage from an important diplomatic and economic opportunity is both short-sighted and counterproductive. It also doesn’t align with being a so-called “First Minister for All”.
The United States is a key economic partner for Northern Ireland. Turning away from that relationship, particularly at a time when we need continued international support, is a reckless move that does nothing to advance the interests of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.”
– DUP leader, Gavin Robinson MP
Speaking in Dublin, Michelle O’Neill confirmed she spoke with Emma Little-Pengelly and said “it is absolutely Emma’s call in terms of what she may decide to do.”
Gerry Carroll, People Before Profit MLA for West Belfast, said he welcomes “Sinn Féin’s u-turn, agreeing not to attend this year’s St Patrick’s day events in the White House.”
“It is the very least they can do in light of the ongoing slaughter of Palestinians, and Trump’s brazen advocacy of mechanised ethnic cleansing on the Gaza strip,” he added.
