President Obama and Irish Prime Minister Edna Kenny prodded Republican leaders over the anti-immigrant rhetoric dominating the GOP presidential race during the annual Friends of Ireland lunch at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Immigration is a major issue for Irish Americans, Kenny said, directing his comments to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
“We want them to be documented and we want them to be able to play their part for the country where they now live as law-abiding citizens, and we want them to be able to participate fully in American society,” Kenny said of those who emigrated from his island nation.
He opened by noting that former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, used to broach the sensitive topic first because he knew he was “going to get rolled again” over the subject. Kenny said that now it’s Ryan’s turn.
“I commend President Obama for what he did in terms of the executive authority that he has,” Kenny said about Obama’s efforts, now before the Supreme Court, to defer some deportations.
Noting this spring marks the 100th anniversary of the Easter Uprising that kicked off the movement to free the bulk of Ireland from British rule, Kenny said his country has worked to make the Republic of Ireland an inclusive society.
Irish leaders take “into account the contribution and the involvement of everybody, irrespective of their religion, of their creed, of their politics, or where they came from,” he said.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the event is regularly a time that leaders celebrate immigration and diversity given the large number of Irish Americans.
“There are two things at least on which Democrats and Republicans in America big-heartedly agree: One is that we take seriously our responsibility to be good to Ireland’s sons and daughters because so many of us are Ireland’s sons and daughters,” Obama said after making his now annual joke about being Irish.
Obama wanted to celebrate “the legacy in this country of immigration, and the deep ties that our country has to Ireland,” Earnest said.
Kenny’s visit and accompanying political St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are being held early, as Kenny could not be in Washington on Thursday.
