During Mr Martin's recent White House visit O’Donnell’s decision to move to Ireland from the US was raised by a reporter.

Mary Lou McDonald said Sinn Fein’s friends in the US understand why the party stayed away from the White House over Donald Trump’s stance on Gaza.

Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Conor McGregor ‘does not represent the men’ of Ireland, an Irish Government minister has said.

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar criticised Conor McGregor after the UFC fighter met US president Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick's Day

Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House have exposed Micheal Martin’s ‘cowardly’ approach to Donald Trump, an opposition TD has said.

Micheál Martin does not represent the people of Ireland, Conor McGregor has claimed, after being criticised by the Taoiseach.

Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson said Gaza ‘didn’t get the airing it should have’.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said people had said they ‘felt insulted by the Taoiseach’.

President Donald Trump offered uncomfortable commentary on Ireland during an Oval Office exchange.

Micheál Martin and JD Vance had a warm exchange of words ahead of a highly anticipated meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

The presentation of shamrock to the White House has been a symbol of the friendship between Ireland and the United States since 1953.

Mr Trump will be presented with a bowl of shamrock as the centrepiece of the Irish Government’s major overseas diplomatic push.

Here, we have a look at some of the issues Mr Martin is facing ahead of the visit

Micheál Martin said the country would be willing to be engaged in a peacekeeping mission if a ceasefire is reached

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is facing a difficult diplomatic task ahead of his meeting with US president Donald Trump

Michelle O’Neill previously said she would not attend an event at the White House around St Patrick’s Day.

US president Donald Trump has written to Micheál Martin, inviting him for a meeting in the Oval Office on March 12th.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was important to retain strong ties with the US.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the party was taking the stance in protest at the US administration position on Gaza.

Simon Harris flew back from the US on Thursday.

Simon Harris will undertake a number of engagements during his visit to Washington DC in October.

So where did the traditions start? 

Ms Harris also praised Mr Varadkar as an ‘extraordinary role model’ during a St Patrick’s Day event in Washington DC

The US president and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar discussed Northern Ireland during a bilateral meeting at the White House.

The baking of Israel's actions by US president Joe Biden was common in emails to the Taoiseach

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is to travel to China and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan is to head to Brazil

Politicians from both sides of the Border traditionally visit Washington DC for celebrations on March 17th

Tánaiste Micheál Martin also said that Ireland had not yet decided whether to join South Africa’s legal case against Israel

People Before Profit has called on all TDs to boycott St Patrick's Day trips, including the Taoiseach's visit to the White House

Despite the encounter being painted as a positive for Sinn Fein at the time, a disagreement ensued about disabling arsenal in Northern Ireland.