Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin traveled to the US on Monday, February 5 to visit Washington DC and Chicago as Ireland celebrates 100 years of diplomatic relations with the United States.
Martin's program will begin in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he will meet several members of the United States Congress, including the Congressional Friends of Ireland group.
He will also meet with several members of the Biden Administration during his visit to the US capital.
Martin will hold meetings with a number of business representatives who have operations in Ireland and will also deliver an address at the Atlantic Council, a non-partisan international affairs think tank.
The Tánaiste is expected to discuss Ireland's bilateral relations with the US, the restoration of the Stormont Assembly, and several global issues during his visit to Washington.
Martin will travel from Washington to Chicago on Wednesday where he will hold meetings with Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker and Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson.
He will additionally meet with members of the Chicago Irish community and deliver an address at the City Club of Chicago.
During the address, Martin will announce plans to open a new "Ireland House" in Chicago later this year as part of the Irish Government's Global Ireland Initiative.
Speaking on Monday, Martin said his upcoming visit to Washington offered an opportunity to outline Ireland's policy objectives and discuss a range of global issues.
"I look forward to returning to the United States this week to discuss ways of further strengthening our excellent bilateral relations on the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States this year," Martin said in a statement.
"My meetings and engagements in Washington DC provide an opportunity to outline Ireland’s policy objectives and discuss a range of global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive last week, I will update our friends in the United States Congress and President Biden’s administration on these developments and the challenges that remain, and discuss the role the United States can continue to play in ensuring peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.
"In Chicago, I am looking forward to meeting with the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago, and to meeting with our key Irish community and business contacts in the region.
"I will announce the Government’s plans to open an Ireland House in Chicago later this year as a demonstration of Ireland’s strong continued commitment to the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the wider Midwestern United States."
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