{"id":30241,"date":"2024-12-05T09:51:26","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T14:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30241"},"modified":"2024-12-05T09:51:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T14:51:28","slug":"micheal-martin-we-will-prioritize-irish-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30241","title":{"rendered":"Miche\u00e1l Martin: We Will Prioritize Irish-America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Miche\u00e1l Martin joins Cork Fianna F\u00e1il colleagues and brothers Seamus McGrath, TD, and former Finance Minister Michael McGrath, now EU Commissioner for Democracy and Justice (Peter\u2008Kelly)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exclusive Interview with Peter Kelly in Cork<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All eyes are on Miche\u00e1l Martin becoming the next Taoiseach after his Fianna F\u00e1il party secured the highest vote in the new D\u00e1il in last week\u2019s Irish national election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the T\u00e1naiste had a special message for the Irish diaspora: \u201cYou are going to have a government that will continue to prioritize Irish-America in all of our policies and immigrant supports \u2026 very substantial support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin was speaking at Cork city\u2019s Nemo Rangers GAA club as the election count was finalized there for Ireland\u2019s second city\u2019s two constituencies. He has represented Cork South Central as a local TD (Teachta D\u00e1il) in Dublin since 1989.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following last Friday\u2019s contest, TD numbers elected to D\u00e1il Eireann after all 174 seats were filled are as follows. Fianna F\u00e1il 48, Sinn Fein 39, Fine Gael 38, Labour and Social Democrats 11 each, and Independents 16. The remaining seats were shared between smaller parties in single digit numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Green Party coalition partners were decimated to a single TD, their leader Roderic O\u2019Gorman, and saw their numbers dramatically evaporate from their 12 TDs elected in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 86 seats, the combined total of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael TDs is just two short of an overall majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negotiations between Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and prospective coalition partners have therefore begun and are expected to be drawn out. It is unlikely that a new government will be formed before Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new D\u00e1il is due to sit for the first time on 18th December, but it may be as late as February 2025 before a durable partnership is sealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin said, \u201cIt\u2019s now a very fragmented Irish political system. That means the pathway to government can be complex, but it\u2019s there, I think. But we have to wait.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘Republican Party’ leader was upbeat about Ireland\u2019s continuing relationship with the United States. He pledged to work energetically with the incoming Donald Trump administration, which begins on Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe respect the decision of the American people and the people have spoken,\u201d said Mr Martin. \u201cWe have worked with him during Trump\u2019s previous time in government, and we will do the same on this occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Miche\u00e1l Martin cheekily advertises The Irish Examiner USA (Peter\u2008Kelly)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The T\u00e1naiste spoke of his pride in Ireland\u2019s envious links within Washington and its partnerships through Embassy officials, headed by Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe diplomatic-political relationship is always strong,\u201d he reassured. \u201cWe have good support on \u2018the Hill\u2019 on both sides of the aisle. That will continue to be our approach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former Cork teacher added, \u201cwe both have a really strong, robust economic relationship. So obviously we\u2019d be interested in discussing and engaging on those issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin was in Manhattan in September during the United Nations General Assembly session. He opened Ireland House at 200 Park Avenue in the famous MetLife building which formerly housed Pan Am Airways. It now hosts Ireland\u2019s Consul-General offices, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, CIE Tours, and the Ireland Funds under one roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sought to reassure Irish diaspora groups in the US of his government\u2019s continuing support. \u201cI was in New York recently, and in the new Consul-General in New York, which is a beautiful facility, in the Ireland House facility. I think from an Irish-American perspective, that will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his time as Taoiseach in the rotating partnership with the Fine Gael coalition government since 2020, Miche\u00e1l Martin visited the White House for St Patrick\u2019s Day to meet President Joe Biden in March 2022. However, he dramatically contracted Covid-19 en route and instead had to isolate in nearby Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked if we should expect his return to Washington as Taoiseach in 2025 to engage with President Trump on St Patrick\u2019s Day, the Cork TD remained characteristically guarded. \u201cThat would be very enjoyable if that was to turn out to be the case. We\u2019ll wait and see.\u201d <\/p>\n

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