Tánaiste to travel to Washington and Chicago

The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin will begin a visit to Washington DC and Chicago on Monday 5 February.

Ireland will mark 100 years of diplomatic relations with the United States this year and the Tánaiste’s visit will celebrate this milestone.

The Tánaiste will begin his programme in Washington DC on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 February. He will meet with several members of the United States Congress, including the Congressional Friends of Ireland, and with members of President Biden’s administration. The Tánaiste will use the opportunity of these meetings to discuss Ireland’s bilateral relationship with the United States, as well as a number of global challenges. The Tánaiste will also deliver an address at the Atlantic Council and will have meetings with US business representatives with operations in Ireland.

The Tánaiste will travel to Chicago on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 February, where he will meet with the Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, and the Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson. The Tánaiste will also have several meetings with members of the local Irish community. During an address at the City Club of Chicago, the Tánaiste will announce plans to open a new ‘Ireland House’ in Chicago later this year, as part of the government’s Global Ireland initiative.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Tánaiste said:

"I look forward to returning to the United States this week to discuss ways of further strengthening our excellent bilateral relations on the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States this year.

“My meetings and engagements in Washington DC provide an opportunity to outline Ireland’s policy objectives and discuss a range of global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive last week, I will update our friends in the United States Congress and President Biden’s administration on these developments and the challenges that remain, and discuss the role the United States can continue to play in ensuring peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

“In Chicago, I am looking forward to meeting with the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago, and to meeting with our key Irish community and business contacts in the region. I will announce the government’s plans to open an Ireland House in Chicago later this year as a demonstration of Ireland’s strong continued commitment to the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the wider Midwestern United States.”