St. Patrick’s Day 2024: Minister of Justice Helen McEntee TD’s Programme in New York
The Consulate General was pleased to host the visit of Minister of Justice Helen McEntee TD, with a programme of more than 25 community, political, business and cultural engagements across the city.
Ministerial Programme
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee represented the Government of Ireland in New York for St Patrick’s Day this year, with a programme of more than 25 business, political, community, and cultural engagements focused on the theme of ‘the future of our country in the world’ and culminating in the annual parade up Fifth Avenue on March 16.
The week commenced with the annual Ireland INC. Leadership Breakfast at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street, where Minister McEntee participated in a roundtable discussion on the future of US-Ireland trade and investment before the ringing of the opening bell. Later in the week, she joined New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal, Maggie Timoney, CEO of Heineken USA, for the closing bell of NASDAQ.
While in New York, the Minister led Ireland’s delegation at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), delivering the national statement on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in efforts to address poverty. She also met UN Deputy Secretary and Chair of the Sustainable Development Group, Ms. Amina Mohamed, and hosted a breakfast discussion on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
Throughout the week, Minister McEntee participated in a series of business, investment and Justice-themed events. Notably, she attended the launch of the Annual Report of the American-Irish Chamber of Commerce and attended a US-Ireland Council event. The Minister also addressed a reception at John Jay College in honour of the McCabe Fellowship, a program that invites outstanding Garda members in Ireland to attend the college in New York, which is aimed at enhancing the leadership skills and understanding of police practices. There she had the opportunity to discuss the programme’s impact with NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella.
Ireland’s state agencies hosted the Minister at a series of engagements, including an Enterprise Ireland roundtable discussion on cyber security and fraud featuring pioneering Irish companies developing cutting edge tech solutions and key partners from US law enforcement agencies. The Minister also addressed the Irish Funds Seminar on latest developments in the sector.
In her political contacts the Minister met the Attorney General of New York Letitia James, the Mayor of New York City Eric Adams and she hosted the Governor of New York Kathy Hochul at the Official St. Patrick’s Day Reception in New York, hosted at the Consulate General of Ireland. She also had the opportunity to engage with numerous Irish-American city and state legislators from across the political spectrum.
Later in the week, the Minister joined Westlife for a Lighting Ceremony at the Empire State Building, where the iconic New York landmark was illuminated in green in honour of Ireland’s national day.
On the day of the Historic 263rd St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Minister McEntee first attended a Breakfast hosted by the Mayor of New York City at his official residence at Gracie Mansion, where she presented him with a hand-crafted wooden bowl, filled with shamrock. This was followed by a mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a breakfast with the Irish Chamber of Commerce USA. Minister McEntee’s trip culminated in marching up Fifth Avenue alongside New York politicians and numerous Irish organizations.