Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has a message for the opponents of Queen Elizabeth's and US president Barack Obama's forthcoming state visits to Ireland. They should stop grousing and consider these visits an investment in the future, he said.
Kenny was responding to a chorus of critics in the Irish parliament this week who argued the queen's security costs could be better spent on much needed hospital beds.
Richard Boyd Barrett, a member of parliament, raised the issue of the cost of the visit to the nation's purse, adding that by inviting "one of the richest women in the world to this country for a jamboree" the prime minister was "rubbing the noses" of the Irish public who were being "slaughtered with cuts."
Barrett then asked if it were true that the security costs for the two state visits would amount to 25 million euro.
In response Prime Minister Kenny described Barrett’s comments as short-sighted, adding that he should look at the visits of two global figures as an investment.
Kenny added that it was the first time in 100 years that a reigning British monarch had visited Ireland, and her visit was "the culmination of a great deal of work by a great number of people who brought about a peace situation."
Minister Joe Higgins said the reason for President Obama’s visit was to "support his re-election campaign and how this will impact on the Irish-American vote."
Higgins added that it was a "little rich that the taxpayer, as well as bailing out European speculators, now must make a contribution to the re-election campaign of a US president."
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed president Obama’s visit, but added that while some might welcome the Queen’s visit, others "have the right to dissent provided they do so peacefully."
Kenny added: "Ireland is a free country and visitors are welcome here" and the "vast majority of people will welcome the visits of the Queen of England and President Obama."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.KLennox | Jan 23, 2012, 07:31 PM EST
I agree with the majority of posts here -- with the notable exception of islenita. The ENGLISH queen in Ireland is offensive. It isn't an Irish Jubilee, is it? And it isn't an investment, nor will it be helpful to the Irish. Stupid pols for allowing it and/or supporting it. Shame on you all. The hell with the Mountbattans and all their ilk. If the Irish can't maintain standards and know what is right, they'll be doomed to get sucker-punced again by deceitful, evil-intentioned Germans with nicer accents. Remember your history or it will undo you.
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 05:39 PM EDT
Kenny..You dirty rat..How is a visit by Lizzy the Hun going to be an investment? Are you thinking of putting up plaque's around the country engraved with "Lizzy woz ere" and the tourists are going to come flocking in. We have a slang word for you in Cork. Kenny=Langer
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 05:28 PM EDT
mamaginnty..Well Done!! You tell this lot what the Brits are like. Easy for people to say forget the past.The way some of these people talk you would think it was ancient history.A day or two in an RUC cell and a few beatings when you are innocent and we'll see how easy they forget.
mamaginnty | Apr 26, 2011, 04:15 PM EDT
Islenita, you got me wrong, I was quoting what LinLinisme said. I have been verbally abused on this site because I have said I will never forget the past, I have lost relations and friends because of the Br.Army. I am a pensioner now, but will never forget my grandfather either, who badly injured managed with his son to save his daughter ( my mother ) from being burned to death. The brits new she was in the cottage but torched it anyway. A relation was shot in the back only 14 yrs ago, and some have the nerve to tell me to forget and move on. Never.
ScullysSoulmate | Apr 26, 2011, 02:22 PM EDT
WHY IS THIS ARTICLE NO LONGER LISTED IN HEADLINES AND ONLY FOUND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH???
islenita | Apr 26, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT
@ morninghours Obama may be able to attract thousands but they are just as stupid as he is. He has not done one right thing towards this country US foreign domestic or otherwise. He has no experience is confused and naive. If he gets re-elected it's because of blinded people such as yourself. Seen the polls lately. As for both the queen and the prez being an investment. Kenny you need a return where is it? Neither part has anything of substance to offer for the expenditure needed. I would like to come over and see my family but alas the price of oil is keeping me back. So they can stay home as well.@scullysoulmate- well said! @mamaginty you may have gotten over your past a long time ago but I know many more that haven't and shouldn't. Lose someone in the troubles or have your entire family emigrate and thus forcibly kept apart. I think not.
ScullysSoulmate | Apr 25, 2011, 07:29 PM EDT
The fact is, an "investment" in a visit by the "queen" is a pathetic suggestion. The brits have NEVER invested a DIME in Ireland unless it was related to making money for THEMSELVES. Hospitals are being closed, roads are not being repaired, taxes are being raised, and the Irish should pay for british "royalty" to visit NOW?!? This is LUDICRIOUS. And Linlinisme is a brit or a brit lover, she has NO idea how the average Irish person feels, which is very evident by pretty much each and every post she's ever posted, so give her comments no credence whatsoever. In fact, Obama shouldn't visit NOW either, given the state of the economy, these world "leaders" should stay home, like their citizens must, during this global economic crisis, not rub people's noses in the stench of the banker imposed slavery being forced upon us all.
mamaginnty | Apr 25, 2011, 07:26 PM EDT
LinLinisme, " we got over our past long ago " will you ever cop on, you are just after calling a black man a baboon, and I do not think true irish americans would say they " love the queen " Obama looks nearer to a saint than your last war mongar of a president...who left Afghanistan for the rest of the world to clean up, because of his great friends the Bin Ladens. But the colour of ones skin seems to mean a lot in America to some people, not all, but some. We here in Ireland can call our Taoiseach ( not Prime Minister ) a slimy no good eejit but it's not because of the colour of his skin. MorningHours, don't make me laugh, " irish-american history " againsts blacks. KKK. US Police etc. Think again.
RayFortMill | Apr 25, 2011, 08:25 AM EDT
I do hope that both leaders are welcomed, and that their visits do go well. Ireland should want to be seen as an upstanding country on the world stage -- not as a country that cannot get over fueding within. The difference between those two viewpoints are worth the cost.
OurselvesAlone | Apr 24, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT
Oh Taoiseach, how come Obama didn't even acknowledge the 2 great GAA athletes (Bernie Brogan and Tipp captain Eoin Kelly) you brought to the White House. Theyy effectively served as a potted plant backdrop to Obama's speech.
Morninghours | Apr 24, 2011, 06:19 PM EDT
One of the saddest aspects of Irish-American history is the tradition of bigotry against Blacks and other minorities. Comments by LinLinisme and plezga123 would suggest that this tradition of narrow-minded hatred sadly lives on. The fact is President Obama can attract a crowd of tens of thousands on U.S. soil any day of the week. Furthermore, he will be re-elected, and thank God for it, because the GOP contenders look more like a carnival freak show than serious presidential material.
Trealach | Apr 24, 2011, 03:41 PM EDT
Kenny added: "Ireland is a free country and visitors are welcome here" - so how come the idiot hasn't invited Col. Gadaffi, after all the Irish LOVE a good Rebel - but NOT a Monarch.- and we need cheap oil like the US What an assh*le of a Táoiseach!!
plezga123 | Apr 24, 2011, 12:16 PM EDT
lmao @ LinLinisme. and being an America of Irish heritage, yes, I have to agree!!
cillowen | Apr 24, 2011, 11:58 AM EDT
spoken by the mayo sucker sounder weasel the "end"A
LinLinisme | Apr 24, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT
Honor the Queen, but you can keep O'Baboon there, America loves the Queen, we got over out past long ago. But O'Baboon is not even welcome in America. You can have him.