How many people are opposed to Ireland's leader meeting Donald Trump this St. Patrick’s Day?

An exclusive poll by Amárach Research carried out for Extra.ie has found that almost half of the public, 47%, believe Micheál Martin should not travel to the Oval Office.

The poll, conducted between January 21 and 26, found 35% believe he should attend, while 18% said they "don’t know".

Those surveyed were asked to take into account Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela, where he abducted leader Nicolás Maduro, and Greenland, which he threatened to annex before backing down.

In the Dáil last week, Mr Martin defended the visit, saying: "We have always had a very strong relationship with the US, irrespective of who the president happens to be, or who is in power on the Hill at any given time."

Extra.ie also revealed at the weekend that Mr Trump plans to attend the Irish Open at his Doonbeg Golf Course in September.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee.

The polling comes as Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee will bring a memo to Cabinet today outlining this year’s St Patrick’s Day programme of ministerial visits.

It also comes as a row has broken out between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over comments made by Tánaiste Simon Harris last week, when he said there wasn’t "any scenario" in which Ireland would join Mr Trump’s controversial Board of Peace.

Mr Martin had previously left open the possibility that Ireland may join the organisation, but had expressed some reservations about the proposal. By comparison, Mr Harris firmly closed the door on any suggestion that we would join the nascent organisation.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

His comments were called "embarrassing" by one Fianna Fáil minister, who said his remarks left him looking "insecure".

"I think everyone is happy Micheál Martin is the adult in the room, and not Simon, who can’t help himself,’ they added. ‘When Helen was walking a tight line, [Mr Harris] was pouring fuel on it. Most EU capitals were taking a more nuanced line [on the Board of Peace]".

They said the Department of Foreign Affairs usually took a "considered position" at the diplomatic level in relation to such sensitive proposals.

"He was undermining Helen as much as anyone. It was a push for publicity rather than navigating diplomacy," they added.

It comes after a chaotic few weeks from the Oval Office, in which Mr Trump launched a military operation in Venezuela, captured the country’s president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and brought them to the US to stand trial for drug offenses.

Last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump backed down on threats to impose tariffs and military force as leverage to seize Greenland. Inhabitants of the Danish territory feared a military offensive from Mr Trump in a bid to capture the island.

President Donald J Trump.

Meanwhile, mass protests have erupted in Minnesota after Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. It came just weeks after Renee Good was shot in the same city by ICE agents.

The Trump administration has defended both incidents, although the president appeared to be trying to quell the outcry in Minneapolis yesterday, deploying his border tsar to oversee operations and taking a more positive tone with Governor Tim Walz.

Our poll found that men are more in favour of Mr Martin travelling to the Oval Office compared to women, with 44% of men and just 26% of women supportive of it. Women are also more uncertain: 22% don’t know, compared to 13% of men.

There is greater support among older people for the Taoiseach travelling. Under-35s are sceptical and unsure, with 9% believing he should travel, 45% against, and 27% saying they don’t know.

The poll found 42% of men do not want the Taoiseach to travel compared to 52% of women. Support is strongest in Dublin and Munster, with 38% backing the move.

Leinster, excluding Dublin, is the most opposed area, with a majority of 51% saying no and just 32% in favour. Connacht/Ulster stands out for its high level of uncertainty, with nearly a quarter (24%) saying they don’t know, alongside the lowest yes figure at 30%.

Labour and People Before Profit have said Mr Martin should not take up the offer of visiting, in response to Mr Trump’s actions. However, Mr Martin is all but certain to take the invitation.

In the Dáil last week, he said: "We have always had a very strong relationship with the US… That has underpinned a very significant economic relationship that puts bread on the tables of Irish workers. That is the reality."

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime yesterday, Fine Gael TD Barry Ward said it is problematic that meetings at the Oval Office have turned into press conferences, and that the Taoiseach’s team should work to get more private time with Mr Trump.

His visit to the White House may be made more difficult after comments by Mr Harris last week appeared to gazump Mr Martin on whether Ireland would join Mr Trump’s Board of Peace.

Speaking from Brussels, Mr Martin had said there were "concerns" about the proposal from Mr Trump, but added that Ireland was "anxious" to contribute to "peace and conflict resolution in the Middle East and Gaza".

However, Fine Gael leader Mr Harris firmly closed down any prospect of Ireland joining the board. He said at Government Buildings: "A board President Putin has been invited to – I mean, there’s a complete oxymoron, Putin and peace, first thing. Secondly, paying a billion dollars? We won’t be doing that. And thirdly, the idea that you’d end up setting up some form of structure, I think, essentially, competes with the UN or something – it is very hard to understand."

Minister McEntee had to later clarify that the Government was speaking with one voice on the matter.

Additional reporting by Brian Mahon.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.