Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

148. To ask the Taoiseach the travelling party that went to Washington DC for St. Patrick’s Day in 2019; if the Government was asked to provide a list of persons to be accredited to attend the White House reception in 2019; and if so, the full list and other relevant details. [36145/20]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On his visit to Washington for St Patrick’s Day in 2019 the then Taoiseach was accompanied by the Secretary General of his Department, his Chief of Staff, an Assistant Secretary General, the Government Press Secretary, his Private Secretary, an advisor, an assistant, and a security officer, as well as by the Ambassador and relevant Embassy staff.

The St Patrick’s Day reception in the White House is hosted by the President of the United States. Those attending are invited as his guests. I am advised that it is not the practice for the names of those invited to such events to be made public.

The custom has been that, as a courtesy, in addition to his immediate delegation the Taoiseach of the day is invited by the White House to propose a number of guests for invitation to the reception by the President. In keeping with this, the then Taoiseach proposed nine guests who attended the event.