THE IRISH TIMES Wednesday,September 4,2019 Home News 3 Pencevisit Pence strongly supports British Security detail prime minister in Brexit negotiations finds hotel hosts fellow travellers agreement; an agreement ainfromthevice-presidentdur- strong presence in Ireland. A Mr Pence also defended his Hard border would have ‘deeply destructive’ which was carefully negotiated ing thesecondday of his visit Government spokesman said it decision to stay in Mr Trump’s to overcome all these risks,” he hadnotbeen expected.ButGov- had made asubmission in rela- golf hotel in Doonbeg during totakeastroll onthe beach be- impact on Ireland, Varadkar says said. ernment sources stressed they tiontothe development of 5G his visit to Irelandfollowing cause of the security restric- He asked Mr Pence “to bring were “verysatisfied” that the networksto theEuropeanCom- widespread criticism in the US. tions. Pence defended his decision to stay in the messageback to Washing- private discussions between Mr mission, and thatthe EU would Mr Pence said the choice was “At least we are safe,” she ton with you”. Pence and Mr Varadkar had re- be making ajoint response to “logical” and was chosen to ac- said, generously, referring to Trump’s golf hotel in Doonbeg Later, ahead of ameetingin inforced the role of the US as a this issue towards the end of commodate the “unique foot- the heavy security presence. the US ambassador’s resi- guarantor of the Belfast Agree- this year. print”that comeswith the secu- Tom Skea from New Jersey dence, asked if the Belfast ment.Inparticular, the Taoise- rity detail and other personnel saidhedid not knowPence SUZANNE LYNCH anagreementtorespectUKsov- Agreement needed to be in ach pointed out that amajority Challenges needed. Mr Pence is travelling Simon was at Doonbeg until his golf- and HARRY McGEE ereignty and minimise disrup- place in order for the US to sign in NorthernIreland supported The vice-president, who flies to with a300-strong entourage. ing party arrivedbut they tion to commerce”. atrade agreement with Britain, the backstop. London today, began his visit to Earlier, his chief of staff said Mr Carswell were not put out by the metal US vice-president Mike Pence “The United States supports he said: “Let me leave the de- Mr Pence alsothankedthe DublinwithameetingatÁrasan Trump had suggested the inDoonbeg detectors and checks. strongly backed the UK and the United Kingdom’s decision tails to others,” addingthat the Irish Governmentfor the role Uachtaráin. PresidentMichael vice-president stay at the hotel, “It’s Trump, you have to ex- prime minister Boris Johnson to leave the European Union in US wouldcontinue to affirm played by Shannon Airport as DHiggins emphasisedthe need though he said this wasn’t a“re- pect theunexpected,” he said, in the ongoing Brexit negotia- Brexit,” he said,though he add- the importance of the accord. an “important hub” for the US. for “continued multilateral quest” or a“command”. Even the secret service agents drinkingapint of Guinnessas tions followinghis meeting ed that the Good Friday agree- “We are gratefulfor that co-operation” to address global Mr Trump has faced accusa- weretaking photographsof he surveyed the course. with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ment needed to be respected. Sovereignty Irish hospitality for our troops and regionalchallenges. tions of conflicts of interests the Atlantic waves rolling in The reception for Pence yesterday. For his part Mr Varadkar He alsosaid thatthe United as they deploy and they come He alsoraised the migration over his business affairs since on Doughmorebeachnext to around herehas been more Speaking at apress confer- saidthe impact that ahardbor- States“respects the sovereign- home,” he said. crisis with the vice-president becoming US president. His Donald Trump’s golf resort at low key thanthe welcome ence in Farmleigh, Mr Pence der would haveonIreland ty of the United Kingdom and Cybersecurity was also dis- duringtheirmeeting–aconten- suggestion last month that his Doonbeg in west Clare. rolled out for Trump in June. saidIreland and the European wouldbesubstantial and“deep- the decision of the United King- cussed. Mr Pence warned that tious issue in the United States resort in Miami could be aven- One agent was so taken Rita McInerney, aFianna Union should“negotiatein ly destructive”. dom to leave the European Un- allies neededtofindother 5G where the Trump administra- ue for next year’s G7 summit with Ireland’s Atlanticcoast Fáil general electioncandi- goodfaith withprime minister “That is why we must stand ion”. options to Huawei, the Chinese tionhas embraced azero-toler- provoked outragefrom his op- that she thought it astunning date who runs acafe in Doon- Johnson and to worktoreach our ground on the withdrawal The robust support for Brit- telecoms provider which has a ance policy on immigration. ponents. backdrop for aportrait of her beg,said, likefor Trump, lo- Belgian Malinois sniffer dog cals could welcome Pence the outsidethe restaurant in the man and still be opposed to resort’s golf clubhouse. the conservative’spolicies, Othersthoughtthe IrishNa- particularly his oppositionto val vessel, the LÉ William same-sex marriageand rights Butler Yeats –sent to Dough- for LGBT people. more Baytoprotect Trump’s deputy, US vice-president Disagree Mike Pence during his “Doonbeg people are no fools. two-night visit –was worth a They have acertain level of few snaps. pride in the fact that it is arela- JoeRussell,managing direc- tive of someone who came tor of Trump’s resort, thought from Doonbeg who has thatPence’svisitwas “quiet- achieved high office. The fact er” thanthe juggernaut that thatyou may or may not disa- steamed through here in June greewiththeirpolicies isasep- whenTrump and his arate issue,” said McInerney 600-strong entourage visited. who disagrees with Pence’s The numberofUSofficial LGBT views. staff in west Clare this week Down the road in Kilkee, with Pence, or V-POTUS as he 2019 Fine Gael local council is officially known,and his contender Mike Taylor, the wife, second lady Karen county’s firstopenlygay local Pence, or SLOTUS, are about election candidate, felt it was half that number. “regressive and regrettable” Russell said it was “lovely” that Pence had been wel- to have areturn visit from the comed in Clare. White House so soonafter “It is sickening to me that Trump’s,particularly because somebody canhold such re- Pence’s mother’s grandmoth- gressive, dangerousand igno- er came fromthe Doonbeg rant views,” he said. area. He took issue with the Kieran Maloney, adistant WhiteHouse’s deputypress cousin of Pencewho works as secretary tweetingyesterday abarman at Trump’s resort, that Pencecould not be de- serveddrinksto America’ssec- scribed as anti-gaybecause he ondcouple on Monday night was lunching with agay Taoi- inTrump’s OceanView restau- seach and his partner in Dub- rant. lin later in the day. “Is that really the image we Sharing want to project across the Pence’s visit, brought forward world?” he said. by four days, meanthis party Taylor(21),amemberof are sharing the resort for two Young Fine Gael’s engage- nightswithateam-building ment, inclusion and diversity conference for staff from a committee,wasequallyunhap- multinational logistics py thatVaradkar found company and aUSwedding himself in a“cheapphoto op” group. withPencethat exposed the One American guest, when US vice-president’s “hypocri- disturbed forpermission to sy”. have their room “swept” by “To see our Taoiseach will- the secret service,responded: ing to shake hands with that Irish eyes suddenly stop smiling at mention of Boris “It would be an honour.” The kindof person–inone sense, it party is said to be made up of shows what adiplomat and the “right voters”. statesman Leo can be,”he yesterday –“deeply humbled” He had to. It’s in the job Sabina. The VP kept writing as Mike’s wife was otherwise ■ Mike Pence and his mother Amemberofthe corporate said. “On the other hand, I and “honoured” to be going to description for normal prime the silence got louder. Still detained, mammy could sit in Nancy Pence-Fritsch look at his team-building party, from think it shows what afool he the hometown of his mother’s ministers. writing. Michael Dlooking into as chaperone should the VP grandfather’s service records Norway, said she was unable can be.” grandmother and so on. Same goes for Michael D the distance. have found himself unavoida- Higgins, even though it would Finally, thank God, Pence bly alone in adining room with Strongendorsement be true to say that Michael D stopped writing, which was a our gay Taoiseach. But, after he said all these nice and Mike Pence do not sing relief all round. There was You can never be too careful. things about the “Emerald from the same hymn sheet. another photo opportunity In the end, Pence brought his Miriam Isle” and how much his boss But international diplomacy then the party retired next wife, his mother and his sister Donald Trump –hesent his is what it is and in the context of door for tea. to the Old Country, where it Lord best wishes, by the way – going about their nations’ Apicture was released of the seems alot of the natives have appreciates us and all we do to business, everyone has to be two groups sitting on either turned alarmingly heathen in help American security in seen to get along. side of along table –two tables the generations since his Awkward moments Shannon, he delivered avery But for all that, Michael D’s together. ancestors left our shores. as Pence channels strong endorsement of Boris sprayed-on smile when the US The sort of thing when more His morning began with a Johnson and Brexit. vice-president came to visit guests than expected arrive. trip to the Phoenix Park and a his master’s voice No room left for doubt.