Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald was in the United States for two days to meet with the US Administration and senior political figures on Capitol Hill, including the Congressional Friends of Ireland group and Representative Rashida Tlaib.
She also met with the Ad hoc committee on the Good Friday Agreement and Trade Union leaders. During the visit, she raised the holding of referendums on Irish unity, US trade tariffs and the unique position of the island of Ireland. She also raised the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Ms. McDonald said, “Last week, the Sinn Féin leadership was in London to brief the Diplomatic Corps and address the Foreign Press Association on the holding of referenda on Irish Unity, the issue of US trade tariffs and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“We are in the US this week for a short visit to meet with the Congressional Friends of Ireland group and other representatives on Capitol Hill including Representative Rashida Tlaib, the first American Palestinian woman to serve in Congress. We also met the Ad Hoc Committee on the Good Friday Agreement and Trade Union leaders. Key among the issues discussed were the holding of referenda on Irish Unity, tariffs and the potential impact on the economy and political process and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“We discussed the role that those in the US can play in supporting the holding of referendums on Irish unity, which we believe will happen before the end of this decade. It is important for the Irish government to prepare for these referenda and the opportunities that will arise if we are ready. It would be reckless to continue to ignore what is happening all around them and to be the only group in Ireland not discussing constitutional change. The United States was central to the achievement of Good Friday Agreement and to protecting Ireland’s interests during Brexit and will have an important role to play in the bringing about of referenda so that the people can decide their constitutional future.
“Just as with Brexit, Ireland is in a unique situation in relation to the issue of tariffs, given we still have two jurisdictions on the island – one inside the EU and one outside the EU. We have spent almost a decade dealing with the fallout from the Brexit referendum to protect the peace process, prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and allow the all-Ireland economy to flourish. These issues are still critical today.
“We raised the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We set out the views of the Irish people and our abhorrence of what is happening to the Palestinian people and the failure of the International community to uphold international law, allowing Israel to act with impunity. We set out the urgent need for a ceasefire and an end to the slaughter of Palestinian people. We also briefed people on the Occupied Territories Bill, which is about stopping trade with illegal occupied territories which are in breach of international law.”
