Anti-gay Pence will only meet Leo behind closed doors
US VICE-PRESIDENT Mike Pence has barred the media from the traditional breakfast meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tomorrow, in what is being seen as a major diplomatic snub.
Mr Pence has been criticised for his views on LGBT rights and Mr Varadkar is one of few openly gay world leaders.
Government officials are understood to be “unhappy” about the decision to hold the meeting in private with no media present.
Vice-presidents have traditionally allowed the media to attend when taoisigh are hosted at the official residence outside Washington during the St Patrick’s Day visits.
US VICE-PRESIDENT Mike Pence has barred the media from the traditional breakfast meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tomorrow, in what is being seen as a major diplomatic snub.
Mr Pence has been criticised for his views on LGBT rights and Mr Varadkar is one of few openly gay world leaders.
Government officials are understood to be “unhappy” about the decision to hold the meeting in private.
Vice-presidents have traditionally allowed the media to be present when taoisigh are hosted at the official residence outside Washington during the St Patrick’s Day visits.
The meeting between Mr Pence and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny was open to the media last year.
Traditionally, the St Patrick’s
Day breakfast meeting between the Taoiseach and the Vice-President is attended by reporters and their comments can be reported to the public.
It is understood the decision to bar the media was taken by the Vice-President’s office.
Department of Foreign Affairs staff are still consulting with Mr Pence’s office about the situation.
Mr Pence has long been known for his opposition to gay rights and is a rumoured supporter of conversion therapy – a discredited practice that proponents claim can make gay people straight.
The Taoiseach was asked whether he would raise the issue when they meet. “I’m told Vice-President Pence is not a supporter of conversion therapy even though some people have alleged he is,” he said. “If I have the opportunity I’ll certainly be mentioning the wider issue of equal rights and freedoms for LGBT.” Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar will invite Donald Trump to Ireland when he meets the president today – and will congratulate him on emulating Ireland’s tax system.
In February last year – when he was social protection minister and an invitation was first mooted – Mr Varadkar insisted he wouldn’t invite Mr Trump if it was his decision.
But speaking in Washing-
‘I’ ll congratulate Trump on the fact he’s brought US tax laws more into line with ours’
ton yesterday, the Taoiseach confirmed he will talk to Mr Trump about a visit during their bilateral meeting tomorrow morning.
“The invitation that Taoiseach Enda Kenny made to Donald Trump (last year) stands,” he said.
“Donald Trump has invited me to Washington DC. He has invited me to his house and I think it is just normal hospitality that when someone invites you to their house, and their country, that you reciprocate the invitation.
“I’m not into golf so I won’t be playing golf with him if he comes to Doonbeg, but perhaps it will be an opportunity for him to potentially visit some of the Irish companies that invest in the US.”
He also indicated he felt the president would be interested in visiting the Border region.
“I know that’s something he expressed an interest in when we spoke on the phone some months ago. He was very interested in that,” Mr Varadkar said.
The Taoiseach said there has been no indication from the White House on whether Mr Trump plans to take up the existing offer. Mr Trump has, in the past, specifically named Ireland when he complained about American jobs and investment going overseas and praised Apple when it announced it would be bringing some roles back to the United States.
But Mr Varadkar said the area of tax was one he is keen to focus on when he meets the president. American firms employ 150,000 people in Ireland.
“I think what President Trump has done in many ways is emulated our tax policy, de--
cided it makes sense to have lower tax for business and it makes sense to tax companies on the money they make in your country rather than trying to tax them on money they make in other parts of the world.
“So, if anything, I’ll be congratulating him on the fact he’s successfully changed American tax laws and brought them more into line with ours. I’m not going to criticise him for going a long way towards the tax system we have in Ireland which I think is going to benefit America and benefit Ireland too,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she did not feel snubbed by Mr Trump after she did not receive an invitation to attend the annual St Patrick’s Day ceremony.
Ms McDonald insisted former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams should not turn down his invitation in solidarity with his party colleague. She has previously attended the shamrock ceremony in the White House.
Speaking in Washington, the day before the event, Ms McDonald said: “I don’t feel that I was snubbed.
“It is a matter for the White House who they invite as their guests.”