Martin to miss EU meeting as Covid-19 leaves him isolating in US

US President Joe Biden has paid tribute to Ireland’s efforts to accept Ukrainian refugees, describing it as “amazing”.

Speaking to Taoiseach Micheál Martin in a virtual bilateral meeting this afternoon, Mr Biden said: “What Ireland is doing now taking in Ukrainian refugees speaks so loudly about your principles . . . It’s amazing and I want to publicly compliment you for it. Thank you. Thank you.”

The meeting is taking place virtually after the Taoiseach tested positive for Covid-19 last night, leading to the cancellation of his attendance at today’s St Patrick’s Day events in Washington.

It is expected that the Taoiseach will have to remain in the US for the next 10 days, as US regulations prohibit international travel for that period following a positive test.

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This will mean that Mr Martin will miss next week’s European Council summit in Brussels.

In opening remarks, the two men said they would discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as Northern Ireland and other issues.

Mr Martin commended President Biden for his leadership of what he described as the “like minded democracies” who had banded together to oppose Russia’s “barbaric attack on the citizens of Ukraine”.

He said that Ireland supports the “broadest and widest sanctions as possible”, and said it was “extremely important that we keep this unity of purpose” in seeking to end the “unjustifiable and immoral war”.

He said that Russia’s invasion was inflicting “terrible trauma on the children of Ukraine and their mothers”.

‘Unequivocal support’

In his opening remarks President Biden also reiterated his administration’s “unequivocal support” for the Belfast Agreement.

“I’ve made that clear as you probably heard to the prime minister,” he said. “Too much blood, sweat and tears have been shed to get that done, and this is no time to change it.”

Later President Biden returned to the same themes when he addressed the Friends of Ireland lunch on Capitol Hill, hosted by Ms Pelosi and attended by the members of the powerful cross-party group.

He said that the Belfast Agreement was “truly, truly, truly, truly supported” in the US. “We insist that it be maintained,” he said, to applause.

Mr Biden also said that Ireland was “stepping up” in the efforts to isolate Russia and its “murderous dictator, a pure thug, who is waging an immoral war against the Ukraine”.

“The Republic is paying a big price for supporting the sanctions,” he said.

The President again paid effusive tribute to Ireland and the Irish-American relationship which he said was “more intense than ever before”.

In a brief statement issued after the meeting, the Taoiseach’s spokesman said that two men had spoken about “the economy, Brexit and the belfast Agreement, the situation in Ukraine, the undocumented Irish” and that Mr Martin had reiterated the invitation to Mr Biden to visit Ireland.

The Taoiseach said he was “feeling good” after his positive Covid test, which he said illustrated the benefit of vaccines. He said the cancellation of the in-person meeting was “unfortunate, but no more than that”.

The Taoiseach is isolating at Blair House, a guesthouse for visiting leaders across the road from the White House. He quickly left the Ireland Funds gala dinner on Wednesday night after receiving news of his positive test.

Mr Martin had earlier tested negative in routine tests but was retested when a member of the Irish delegation returned a positive result.

Officials scrambled throughout the night to save as much of the day’s programme as possible. The St Patrick’s Day lunch on Capitol Hill with Congressional leaders and the White House reception this evening are expected to go ahead, but without Mr Martin.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said she was “very, very sad” that the Taoiseach would not be joining members of Congress and President Biden for the Friends of Ireland lunch. Ms Pelosi, who sat with the Taoiseach before he left the dinner last night, said she was testing regularly and following medical advice.

Meanwhile, President Michael D. Higgins issued a statement sending his good wishes to the Taoiseach after having heard of his positive Covid-19 test.

“The Taoiseach has had a gruelling schedule working for our country over recent weeks,” he said.

“I know that this work is continuing as he takes the necessary steps following his positive test. I wish the Taoiseach a speedy recovery and also wish him further success with the continuation of his programme in Washington, and in overcoming the necessary constraints involved. Sabina joins me in sending our good wishes to the Taoiseach and to his wife, Mary. Go raibh biseach air go luath.”