There’s controversy Don the horizon
Government ready for controversy during trump’s visit to ireland
THE Government is preparing for plenty of controversy during President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit, the Tanaiste admitted yesterday.
Simon Coveney also confirmed they were “a little taken by surprise” by the announcement he was going to visit Ireland in November.
It was also revealed the giant inflatable Trump baby blimp that dominated London’s skies in July this year will be coming to Ireland.
The US leader is expected to visit the country after he attends the Armistice Day commemoration in Paris.
Mr Coveney said: “It will be controversial because everything Donald
Trump does these days is controversial.” The Tanaiste added the fact the Government was facilitating the visit did not mean it was endorsing US policies.
He added: “We don’t agree with Donald Trump in terms of his approach to climate change, we don’t agree with his approach on migration, we don’t agree with his approach in terms of international trade and the imposition of tariffs.”
Mr Coveney also said he did not agree with former Taoiseach’s Enda Kenny’s description of Mr Trump as a racist.
He added: “I don’t say he’s a racist, but as I’ve said before I disagree with many of the policies that he advocates.” Environmental organisation, Friends of the Earth Ireland are hoping to fly the Simon Coveney Donald Trump travels to Ireland in November baby blimp to protest the Trump’s extreme policies during his visit.
Director Oisin Coghlan said: “We have done a deal in the last 24 hours along with other groups like Afriaction Ireland, Comhlamh, and the Latin America Centre with the Trump Babysitters so the Trump baby will be coming to Ireland.”
Mr Coghlan also said FOEI is calling out to all protesters.
He added: “Kind of like ‘Come all ye protesters on Saturday November 10’.”
But it is still unclear whether or not the blimp will be taking to the skies.
Mr Coghlan said: “The only thing we’ve agreed on at the moment is it is coming across the Irish Sea.”
FOEI will now start liaising with gardai and the relevant authorities. Mr Coghlan said: “I am confident we’ll secure whatever permits are required and in my experience the guards are facilitative of protests.
“A few years ago we had a giant inflatable dinosaur outside the Dail, we had large puppets outside to protest fracking.” As for where the blimp will fly, Mr Coghlan said it was still up in the air.
He added: “Trump may or may not be coming to Dublin. He may not be at the main protest which is scheduled for Saturday November 10.
“We would like to bring it to Doonbeg while Trump is there and Shannon Airport because that’s where he’s flying to.”
OF THE EARTH
We would like to bring the baby blimp to Doonbeg & Shannon
OISIN COGHLAN
FRIENDS