A spokesperson for the Government has said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin is “feeling well and continuing with his work in Washington” after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
The Taoiseach’s positive result was discovered on the eve of a planned meeting in the Oval Office with US President Joe Biden.
A future visit to the White House while Mr. Martin is still Taoiseach is not being ruled out.
He is taking his isolation “day by day” but will not return to Ireland until some time next week, according to a Government source.
The Taoiseach is moving from the official guest house of the President, Blair House, to the Irish embassy in Washington DC later today.
The Government source said that the Taoiseach received a warm welcome from President Biden and was invited back to the US by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.
They said a future visit to the US and the White House during his term as Taoiseach cannot be ruled out.
The Taoiseach had a 30-minute phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this afternoon.
Writing on Twitter, Mr. Martin said: “We agreed like-minded democracies everywhere should unite in opposition to this immoral war on #Ukraine.
“We discussed need to accelerate transition to renewable energy. And we agreed there has to be consequences for Putin’s Russia.”
The two leaders discussed the push in Europe to reduce dependence on Russian gas, as well as climate change and a transition to renewables
Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he is sure Mr. Martin is “somewhat frustrated” about the situation, which meant he could not meet US President Joe Biden in person at the White House as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Mr. Coveney said he believes that the Taoiseach must stay in the US for ten days from the date of his positive Covid test.
“My understanding is that the protocol in the US is that if you test positive, you don’t travel internationally for ten days and my understanding is that the Taoiseach’s intention is to respect that and so that in all likelihood means he won’t be home until 26 March.”
Mr. Coveney added that the Taoiseach will continue to work while he is in the US and hold meetings remotely.
In relation to the EU Leaders’ Summit next week, a person who is attending the meeting will have to deputise for the Taoiseach. That is likely to be Charles Michel, according to Mr. Coveney.
As yet, it is not known who will step in for the Taoiseach at the remembrance events this weekend.
However, Mr. Coveney said most of the Cabinet ministers who have travelled for St Patrick’s Day will be back by the weekend, “so there’ll be a strong ministerial presence on Sunday”.
News source: RTE