
Some government backbench TDs will not attend US embassy's July 4 celebrations
It comes as a number of opposition TDs said this week that they would boycott the annual event, with one planning to participate in a protest on the night.
Politicians are among a host of guests invited to the celebration, including business leaders and civil groups.
While many in opposition have chosen to boycott the event in recent years, TDs in both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said they will also not go this year.
Fine Gael TD Barry Ward said he felt it was not appropriate for him to go, citing a number of reasons, including changes to the rules around J1 visas.
From this week, applicants for J1 student visas are required to set their social media accounts to public so authorities can examine them.
It's not something I'd be comfortable with this year
'In the context of now asking people, the so-called land of the free, to give up all their private information in relation to social media and then possibly refusing people entry because they said something they didn't like,' Mr Ward said.
'They have first amendment rights that extend beyond Americans and yet they don't seem to respect their own constitutional basis.
'So I just decided I'm not going to go this year.'
Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere said he received an invite but would not attend because of the current geopolitical situation.
'I'm not anti-US, but I just think in the current environment, it's not something I'd be comfortable with this year,' Mr Cleere said.
Another Fianna Fáil TD said they were aware of a number of party colleagues who were choosing not to go this year, which they said was not something that would have happened in previous years.
Similar conversations are also happening within the backbenches of Fine Gael, one TD said.
Some TDs who spoke off the record said they did not consider their decision not to go as a boycott. Instead, it was down to them feeling uncomfortable attending the event.
Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne said he would be attending this year but added that there were 'many policies' from the US administration that he did not agree with.
Irish companies employ as many people in the US and US companies do here
'Like the overwhelming majority of Irish people, I have family and friends in the United States and I value those relationships.
'Irish companies employ as many people in the US and US companies do here.
'This has nothing to do with government policy. There are many policies of Donald Trump's presidency with which I strongly disagree,' Mr Byrne said.
Fine Gael TD John Clendennen said while he had accepted the invite for now, he may not attend due to other events that night.
However, he said it was important for politicians to take the opportunity to convey during these events Ireland's message both on Gaza and in relation to trade tariffs.
I've never been and I'm not going this year
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin said he will not be attending the July 4 bash in the US embassy, adding that he has not gone in previous years.
He was unable to say if all party colleagues would be boycotting it.
'I've never been and I'm not going this year, I don't know what the view of other folks are but it's not an event that I've attended,' he said.
'Certainly this year, given what's going on, particularly in the Middle East, that gives me more reason not to go.'

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