United States vice-president JD Vance layered praise on the Irish-American relationship during a breakfast meeting at his official residence with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, describing it as “one of the great alliances”.
Mr Vance – who has played the role of antagonist during recent summits between US president Donald Trump and visiting world leaders to Washington, DC – was, instead, generous in his assessment of Ireland and its relationship with the US.
He charted a shared history and a capacity to work together on business growth in the future, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence, and stayed away from potential points of conflict such as the imbalance in goods trade between the two countries.
While Mr Trump later spoke about this at length in the Oval Office, as well as the looming trade war with the European Union, Mr Vance recalled his personal visit to Ireland in recent years, speaking of how he encountered a “beautiful landscape and also technological growth”.
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Sporting a pair of shamrock socks, Mr Vance said the Taoiseach’s visit was an opportunity to “remind people of the important bonds of friendship between US and Ireland” and joked that it was also an opportunity for his wife to wear her green pants.
Mr Martin was seated at the breakfast meeting at a table with secretary of health Robert F Kennedy, a scion of the Kennedy dynasty who has attracted controversy with his vaccine-sceptic views, while supreme court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was also in attendance.
Justice Kavanaugh’s nomination hearings in the US seven years ago were marked by controversy after a university professor’s accusation that he sexually assaulted her decades previously. He swore his innocence and was confirmed.
Speaking at the annual breakfast held at the vice-president’s residence at the Naval Observatory, Mr Martin thanked Mr Vance for his “warm welcome and hospitality”.
“The United States has been a steadfast friend of Ireland for centuries. Indeed, the United States was the first country to recognise our long-sought independence,” he said.
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The Taoiseach added that Scots-Irish emigrants, including Mr Vance’s forebears, played “a key role in shaping this great country and Appalachia, in particular. Many helped to build the railroads and contributed greatly to America’s prosperity.
“Together, we have built deep and enduring political, cultural and economic bonds, greatly enriching our two nations in the process,” he said.
Other guests present at the breakfast include senators Tim Sheehy and Susan Collins.
Guests were served a cup of fresh berries, poached eggs Benedict with roasted potato cake, cured ham and sliced avocado and a bread basket that included Irish soda bread, pepper scones, black olive bread and honey butter.
