US investment in Ireland should not see President Joe Biden 'insulated from questions'.
That is according to People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who was speaking ahead of a protest against the presidential visit in Dublin later.
Crowds will gather at the GPO on O'Connell Street from 5pm.
President Biden touched down at Dublin Airport just before 3.30pm and is travelling to Co Louth.
Deputy Barrett told Lunchtime Live it is the policies, not the president, his party is against.
"I don't welcome any of his policies, and that's why we will be protesting this evening," he said.
"We think much of US foreign policy is making the world a more dangerous place and is encouraging war and militarism".
'Avowed supporter of Israel'
Deputy Boyd Barrett said the US is "involved in supporting the most brutal regimes in the world."
"Biden himself was - along with George Bush - probably the most the most vociferous advocate for the occupation and invasion of Iraq.
"He is an absolutely avowed supporter of Israel, despite all the war crimes that are being committed by Israel as we speak - the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
"He's also sold billions of dollars worth of weapons... to the Saudi dictatorship, as part of its very brutal war in Yemen in recent years".
A NATO flag flies surrounded by flags of member states at the headquarters of the military alliance in Brussels. Belgium. Picture via @NATOpress on TwitterDeputy Boyd Barrett said US policies affect Ireland very directly.
"To my mind at least one aspect of current Government policy is to move Ireland away from its position of neutrality and towards greater involvement with the NATO military alliance that is dominated by the United States," he said.
"Joe Biden is a very big proponent of expanding NATO; of further militarising Europe.
"These are issues that directly affect the people of this country.
"Whatever investment the United States makes in this country doesn't mean that the US President should be insulated from questions," he added.
'No questioning at all'
Asked if he would separate the President from the foreign policy, Deputy Boyd Barrett said: "We don't have very many opportunities to question and challenge US foreign policy.
"Obviously on the occasion of the President's visit, that would be the opportunity to do it," he said.
He also said a failure to scrutinise President Biden following his address to the Oireachtas on Thursday would be "fundamentally wrong."
"The Dáil is a democratic debating chamber where the issues that affect this country and the world are supposed to be openly discussed.
"Yet, uniquely, the US President is going to be given an opportunity to make a speech where there will be no questioning at all by the elected representatives of the people of this country.
"I believe that's wrong," he added.
Listen back here:
