IRELAND and the US are not arguing over where President Donald Trump might meet the Taoiseach if he visits, the country’s deputy premier has insisted.
Simon Coveney, who is also Ireland’s foreign minister, said reports of a stand-off over locations were exaggerated.
There has been expectation that President Trump will visit Ireland on June 5 as part of his trip to Europe.
The anticipated stop would come at the end of his state visit to the UK and before he attends D-Day commemorations in France.
But with official confirmation still awaited from the White House, reports have emerged that officials are at odds on where Trump might meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The president’s visit to the island is set to be largely private, with Trump expected to base himself at the golf resort he owns in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Rumours of a disagreement focus on whether a meeting with Varadkar would take place on Trump’s property at Doonbeg – the president’s apparent preference – or on more neutral ground. It has been reported the Irish authorities would prefer the nearby Dromoland Castle.
Coveney responded yesterday to the recent media reports, saying: “What I can say is that a lot of what you have been reading in newspapers in the last few days is a total exaggeration and in some cases not true. Let me just reassure people there’s no row, that’s the first thing, and there’s certainly no row over Doonbeg versus other locations.
“The reason why there has been delay here and uncertainty is that the US are essentially working out the president’s visit to the EU, what’s going to be a private element of that visit and what will be very public.”
Coveney said it would not be appropriate for him to confirm a visit before an announcement was made by the US administration.
Asked if Trump would be a welcome visitor, Coveney said: “I think the president of the United States of America should always be welcomed in Ireland if he wants to come here.”
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