'Boxer' Moran heavily involved in planning of Trump's Irish visit

Local Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is heavily involved in the planning of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland this weekend, but said he won't be meeting the US President because of another engagement he had arranged for tomorrow (Saturday).

The Athlone man has responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), which closed the Phoenix Park, including Dublin Zoo, for security reasons ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Áras an Uachtaráin tomorrow.

The closure of the park began at 11pm last night and continues until 6pm tomorrow.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, 'Boxer' said the role of the OPW in relation to the US President's visit was to help ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.

"Between hosting the EU presidency and President Trump's visit there's a lot of pressure on resources at the moment, but we've stepped up to the mark to date and we'll continue to step up," he said.

"All Ministers of State and senior Ministers have been invited (to the Trump visit). I was invited, but I can't go because I have an engagement in the diary already for Saturday.

"But my job as a Minister, with my team in the OPW, is to make sure everything runs smoothly, as best we can, and to make the president's visit an enjoyable one. We have huge economic ties with America, a lot of US pharma companies here, a lot of Irish people living and working in America, and huge connections with the country."

He said he was aware the president is an unpopular figure for many and that protests are being planned to coincide with his Irish visit.

"I know there are protests (planned). We are a democratic country and people are entitled to protest if they wish, but at the same time we have to work with our colleagues across the water and, whatever my department has to do, we'll step up to that mark."

Personally, he said, he had a "neutral" opinion of the US president but added that he disagreed with him on certain issues.

"We have our economic ties with America and we want them to grow. While some people may not like the man, and some people may like the man, I stay neutral on that one," he said.

"I wouldn't agree with everything he says or does, but I also have to recognise that he's elected by the people of America.

"My interest here is the jobs (between Ireland and the US), and the diaspora we have working over there, and I'll continue to work with everybody and anybody to keep them going.

"I have gotten texts from people telling me we should be doing nothing (for Trump's visit) but I am elected and am head of a department. It would be worse if we weren't doing our jobs and something went wrong.

"A lot of the planning is highly confidential, but my department has been very much to the forefront of everything that's happening."

He also acknowledged there had been criticism of the lengthy closure of the Phoenix Park in order to facilitate the visit.

"I've gotten plenty of emails and phonecalls in relation to that. I know some people are questioning (the closure) and saying why can't we open it for a day or a few hours, but it's not as simple as that.

"I recognise that people who go into the Phoenix Park on a daily basis are being put out by this. Dublin Zoo is being put out by this. And there are also the road closures and reopenings, and a heavy presence of Gardai.

"So I have to thank the people of Ireland (for their patience) while all of these high-level engagements are taking place. We're here to do this, and to show that Ireland is well able to punch above its weight," he said.