Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned what he described as the "shocking" apparent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at lSaturday night's White House Correspondents dinner held in a Washington, D.C. hotel.
Speaking in Cork, Mr. Martin, according to reports, said: "it was very serious and very shocking to watch the scenes.
"There can be absolutely no place for violence in politics and our thoughts are with the police officer, the agent who was injured, and indeed with all those impacted by such an event."
Mr. Martin, according to an RTE report, said there was growing evidence of an increase in political violence across the world and he said "we have to be very clear in our condemnation of that."
He said thankfully the president and those at the event were not harmed on this occasion.
The taoiseach added: "We've all been warned about the lone wolf attack. I do think we always need to be conscious of our language in public life and demonising others.
"There's no excuse for the use of the gun in politics and we have seen far too great a frequency and occurrences of political violence across the world and in the United States as well.
"We have to be extremely conscious and vigilant about the proliferation of gun culture as well but it's quite shocking to see events of this kind unfold."
Added the RTE report: "Mr. Martin said President Trump had been subjected to a number of attempted assassinations and he said this was 'reprehensible and outrageous and shocking that this should be occurring.'"
Tánaiste Simon Harris said that political violence has no place in a democracy, this following the shooting at the Washington Hilton.
In a post on X, Harris said his thoughts are with President Trump, the First Lady Melania Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and all those affected by last night's events.
"I am relieved that no one was hurt," Harris said.
It was outside the Washington Hilton that President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981.
