Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is personally disappointed that he did not get to visit the White House on St Patrick’s Day after testing positive for Covid-19.
Mr Martin also confirmed he will chair the weekly Cabinet meeting from Washington next Tuesday as he will be following public health guidance which states he can’t travel for 10 days after testing positive for Covid-19.
Ironically, Mr Martin was due to meet US President Joe Biden at a European Council meeting Thursday but he will be stuck in Washington while President Biden flies to Brussels to meet EU leaders for a discussion on support for Ukraine.
Read more: Taoiseach Micheal Martin in lockdown in Washington and stuck in US for ten days
When asked about this, he said: “I wanted to get over today's events first – but yes, that's very much a possibility at this stage.”
Speaking to reporters at a virtual press conference, Mr Martin said: “Of course I'm disappointed personally but it's not the end of the world, and we have to keep things in perspective.
“I think that is important, particularly in the context of what's happening across the world today.
“Thanks be to God we have the quality of videoconferencing that we now have, and the capacity to have these meetings.
“In terms of the next while: obviously I will be here.
“We have our Cabinet meeting which I chaired from the embassy at the commencement of the week.
“Little did I think I'd have another Cabinet meeting from here next week, but that's the way it is.
“I will continue to work and we will manage this.
“I will be in daily contact with my colleagues and my officials, particularly in respect of the humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis back home.
“So I will keep working. I feel good, and we'll obviously take it day and day and step and step.”
Mr Martin described his meeting with President Biden as a warm, personal conversation and engagement.
He said no date or specifics were given on the US President’s potential visit to Ireland.
Read more: Biden met Taoiseach 'for 7 minutes' before Micheal Martin's Covid diagnoses on St Patrick's Day trip
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