Ireland

Enda Kenny urged to call off St Patrick's Day visit to President Trump

The Taoiseach is set to visit the White House on St Patrick's Day. Picture by AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
The Taoiseach is set to visit the White House on St Patrick's Day. Picture by AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais The Taoiseach is set to visit the White House on St Patrick's Day. Picture by AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has been urged to call off his trip to the White House on St Patrick's Day in protest at US President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries.

The SDLP and Sinn Féin have also called on the Dublin government not to co-operate with the restrictions at Irish airports, which include a suspension of the entire US refugee scheme.

The US Embassy confirmed that the orders are being implemented at both Shannon and Dublin, which allow passengers to clear immigration controls before boarding their flight.

A spokeswoman for Shannon Airport said it was believed no-one had been preventing from boarding a plane to the US at the weekend.

Dublin Airport said it did not hold the information and directed The Irish News to the US Embassy in Dublin, which could not be reached for comment.

The Republic's foreign minister Charlie Flanagan said he shares "the concerns of other EU partners regarding this most recent development".

"While US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities, it is clear that the most recent decisions could have far-reaching implications - both on humanitarian grounds and on relations between the US and the global Muslim community."

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Labour leader Brendan Howlin said the government should snub Mr Trump on March 17, saying the annual gifting of a bowl of shamrock to the US President would "present Ireland as a supine supporter of Trumpism".

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also said: "We respect the US political system and value our historic connections, but we cannot in all honesty hand over that bowl of shamrock in these circumstances."

An online petition calling on the Taoiseach to boycott the St Patrick's Day visit had attracted more than 10,000 signatures within 24 hours.

The United Against Racism group said it plans to hold a protest on Thursday outside the US Embassy in Dublin.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams urged the Dublin government not to enforce "this fundamentally unjust order" at Irish airports.

"This arbitrary ban and the refusal to offer sanctuary to refugees runs counter to international obligations, equality and decency. Generations of Irish fled starvation, poverty and conflict to make a new life and contribute to building America."

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SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who has already said he will refuse to attend the St Patrick's Day reception, said Ireland "should not follow along with the same polite deference".

"This US presidency is not normal therefore normal diplomatic niceties should not apply. We should have no hand, act or part in implementing this ban."