Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan (left) with President Trump’s National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn, in the White House. Photo by Marty Katz.
By Ray O’Hanlon
In a first face-to-face contact between the Trump administration and the Irish government, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Charlie Flanagan, has discussed a range of issues with Trump National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn.
Minister Flanagan has been in the U.S. since Tuesday for a range of meetings with political and business leaders.
He met both General Flynn and Flynn’s deputy, KT McFarland, Tuesday in the White House.
The two discussed a range of foreign policy issues including Northern Ireland, Brexit, immigration policy and bilateral trade matters.
On Wednesday, Minister Flanagan net with senior politicians on Capitol Hill including House Speaker, Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, Senator Dick Durbin and Congressmen Joe Crowley and Richie Neal.
Yesterday evening Flanagan had dinner with over a dozen congressional Members of the Friends of Ireland, including Congressman Pete King and Congressman Mick Mulvaney, who is President Trump’s nominee for the post of budget director.
According to reports, Flanagan, in his meeting with General Kelly, outlined Irish and European Union concerns over President Trump’s executive orders banning travel from seven Muslim majority countries and the restrictions on refugees.
Immigration reform was also discussed.
Speaking to RTÉ, Flanagan said: “In our discussion, I had the opportunity of sensitizing General Flynn on our continuing concerns in regard to the Irish community and our hope that this issue can be addressed by the new administration and congress.”
Flanagan, according to the RTE report, said that the closeness between the U.S. and Ireland meant that he could voice his concerns in an open manner.
Continued Flanagan: “In the long history of friendship between our two countries we’ve always had the capacity, when needed, to speak frankly to one another.
“I directly conveyed to General Flynn the concern expressed in Ireland and across the EU on the recent executive order.
“In response, General Flynn outlined the rationale for the order, while I pointed out the damaging consequences in humanitarian terms, as well as for the international reputation of the United States of America.”
