Why do Ireland politicians believe they can influence Washington

St. Patrick's Day is linked to his fair share of traditions, from wearing a branch of Shamrock, to visiting a church service to a drink of one (or several) Stout pints.

There is another annual tradition for Ireland politicians – a visit to Washington.

Every March, dozens of people, including politicians, businessmen and lobbyists from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, descend to the United States capital.

This year, a number of politicians in Northern Ireland have been refusing to travel Donald Trump's policies.

But what is the point of the events of the week that flocked to St. Patrick's day and if it didn't happen, would anyone come home any difference?

Two of the main things that governments in Dublin and Belfast – as well as business – want to see that they are coming out of travel are investments in the US and strong trade relations.

Two men who have been in Washington several times as part of St. Patrick's events say there is no doubt that travel is producing results.

Steve Aiken participated in the trips of Washington Day St. Patrick as CEO of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and later as leader of the Ulster Unionist party.

The Stormont Assembly member said it was impossible to build relationships to improve business and political ties without meeting face -to -face.

“It's all about talking to people you usually don't get the chance to talk to,” he said.

“As we learned during Covid, doing business over Zoom doesn't really do business.

“You have to be in a room to do it and if you want to influence, you have to be there to speak the conversation; you can't do it from 3500 miles.”

Aiken said that, contrary to what may be perception, this is not a “holiday”.

“You have to be over your short and be able to speak authoritatively and have to have answers to these questions – and you will be asked many questions and will throw you a lot,” he said.

Former Sinn Féin Máirtín ó Muilleoir politician.

The publisher of the Irish echo was twice in the White House in this role, but does not travel to Washington during its time as Finance Minister of Northern Ireland after Stormont CEO collapsed two months before the festivities in 2017.

He said the mood in the United States on St. Patrick's day made it the perfect time to make Irish politicians and businesses to make their terrain.

“Thoughts of the largest companies in the US, they will all have promotions related to St. Patrick's Day,” he said.

“You will go to a city in the United States where there will be ads everywhere.

“This means that they are already doing part of the work for you.”

He said he believed that there would be a big message about Belfast Financial Services in the coming days.

In addition to helping the development of positive relations between the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States, it is a little more difficult to determine direct results from annual visits – after all, there is much more than a relationship than just St. Patrick's Day.

In particular, in the 1990s, visits were regarded as important in the process, which ultimately led to the signing of the Agreement on Friday, 1998, which largely ended the worst of three decades of violence known as trouble.

In 1995 A year after President Bill Clinton intervened to give him a US visa – a move opposed to the UK government.

Five years later, and two years after the Belfast Agreement in 1998, Adams posed for photos in the White House with President Clinton, and then UUP leader David Trumb – a reflection of how times changed.

Both Aiken and ó Muilleoir say visits are key to investment and jobs in the United States in Northern Ireland.

In 2024, in Northern Ireland, there were 285 US companies operating 31,915 people – out of 140 companies and 21 270 employees in 2010.

But Esmond Berni, a senior economist at the University of Olter, said a direct connection could not be attracted.

“It is impossible to quantify whether these political visits actually lead to investments or sales, so you really can't prove it in one way or another,” he said.

“In balance, the benefits are probably less than the basics of training, skills, innovation and productivity, etc.”

Dr. Berni said that factors such as the location of Northern Ireland in both the United Kingdom and the European only market, relatively low labor costs and a relatively low level and unobtrusive provisions of continental European standards, all US companies are willing to invest.

There was once a time when the Irish-Americans were highlighted at the top of the US policy, such as figures such as Senator Teddy Kennedy and the House of Representatives of the House of Representatives O'Neal, encouraging Irish interests in the corridors of power.

This was partly the result of years at high levels of emigration from Ireland to the United States – the US census in 1930 registered 923,600 residents born on Ireland Island.

By the end of the century, which fell to 169,600.

The end of the problems also meant less titles for Northern Ireland.

“One of the problems that every politician or influential of Ireland has – to the north or south – is to keep people interested in what is happening,” Aiken said.

“With everything else in the world, we are quite far on the list.”

However, the ó muilleoir said.

“Once I met with the Consul of Switzerland in Manhattan, and I downplayed the meaning that we no longer had such a big influence in New York,” he said

“He said he walked from Wall Street to Central Park and every block saw an Irish flag – but he did not see any Swiss flags.”

Sinn féin is Boycotting events this year Above the position of President Donald Trump on the conflict in Israel-Gaza, which means that the first minister of Northern Ireland Michel O'Neal, deputy leader of the party, will not be present.

The Social Democratic and Labor Party also stated that it would not be present if it was invited and the Alliance's party occupies a similar position.

Deputy Minister Emma Little-Pingeli of the Democratic Trade Union Party said he would go to Washington, saying it was important to “maintain” long and rewarding relations with the United States.

Ó muilleoir said politicians should weigh the pros and cons.

“This is probably the most difficult time to be in St. Patrick's White House,” he said.

“We are not the only people with moral dilemmas; it is for everyone to make their own choice.”