17 February 2025

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has pressed the deputy First Minister on whether any actions by Donald Trump and his administration would force a rethink on Executive engagement around St Patrick’s Day.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said:

“What we heard from the deputy First Minister today in the Assembly was nothing more than bluster. The public have the right to know what approach our Executive leaders are taking when it comes to travelling to Washington for St Patrick’s Day this year, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s recent comments on Gaza and his Vice President’s speech in Europe at the weekend.

“The deputy First Minister can make all the claims she wants around the strategic importance of this yearly trip – to that I would say, what was achieved by the First and deputy First Minister last year as they took part in this event while the US armed Israel and supported the bombing campaign that killed thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza.

“The SDLP recognises the importance of engaging with the US and we will continue to do so going forward, but we have made a decision for the past two years not to attend these events based on our values. The visit from the First and deputy First Minister to Washington this year will achieve little more than a photo opportunity and the Executive’s approach to international relations should be based on more substance than that.”