On St Patrick’s day later this month, Taoiseach Micheal Martin will meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office. It could not have come at a worse time, with the US-Israel military campaign against Iran escalating. As he presents Trump with the customary bowl of shamrock, the Irish leader will have one eye on the US President and another on the sizable left opposition at home who would much rather he dump the shamrocks over ‘the warmonger’s head’.

Barely 18 months ago, the then-Taoiseach (now Tánaiste) Simon Harris reopened the Irish embassy in Teheran. Two days later, the Islamic regime fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel

Barely 18 months ago, the then-Taoiseach (now Tánaiste) Simon Harris reopened the Irish embassy in Teheran. Two days later, the Islamic regime fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel

The Irish government has adopted a ‘multilateralist approach’ to the current conflict – stopping short of outright condemnation of the US-Israeli strikes but with a firm denunciation of the tyrannical Iranian regime’s repressive actions.

While the government has positioned itself as an advocate for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy, the entire left opposition is demanding that Ireland denounce the US-Israeli actions as a breach of international law. They are also demanding an end to US troops and military aircraft transiting Shannon Airport on route to the........

© The Spectator