The annual visit is unlikely to go ahead.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will not travel to the White House for St Patrick’s Day celebrations this year.
It is thought the occasion will be marked by some kind of virtual meeting between Martin and US President Joe Biden, although no details have been confirmed yet.
On Thursday this week, Martin told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland he would travel to Washington to meet President Biden if he was invited, but that it would depend on the virus.
He said he was amused by the debate which had sprung up around the matter.
However, it was reported on Thursday night that the White House has severely limited public events due to the pandemic.
Asked about the potential visit, Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, said: “We certainly have limited public events. There has not been public events here. I’m happy to check with our team on that, if there’s any change as it relates to a traditional event that happens in March.”
An Taoiseach has previously said the annual meetings are not just “about a bowl of shamrock”, and stated there are a variety of reasons why his attendance is important.
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