Turning down an invitation to the White House would have “significant” implications for years into the future, the Justice Minister has warned.

People Before Profit has called on all Irish political parties to boycott the annual exodus to the US this St Patrick’s Day in protest at President Joe Biden’s continuing support for Israel.

The party has said the boycott would have a symbolic impact right around the world – noting that the ongoing onslaught in Gaza would not be possible without US support.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy on the Dáil plinth.

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin has already rejected the call, insisting that a boycott “doesn’t make sense” and noting that the best way to achieve a ceasefire it through engagement and working to build up international pressure.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Justice Minister Helen McEntee agreed.

“My own personal opinion here is that we should absolutely go,” she said.

“We should absolutely engage with our partners in the US, but right across the world and I'll repeat something the Taoiseach said just this week, wars are not ended by a court case or in any other way.

“They’re ended either where somebody has a military victory, where you have a stalemate or an armistice or through diplomacy.

“I mean for Ireland’s part, the way that we can play a role here in trying to bring about a ceasefire is through engagement, it's through our diplomatic channels.

“You know, it's the conversations that we have with those people who are in power and who will be able to help bring about this ceasefire.

“So I don't think cutting ourselves off, I don't think expelling ambassadors, I don't think refusing to talk to people, is the right thing to do here because it actually doesn't help anybody.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presents US President Joe Biden with a bowl shamrocks during a St Patrick's Day reception at the White House, 17-3-23. Image: dpa picture alliance / Alamy

Minister McEntee said the people of Gaza would “not be helped in any way if we cut ourselves off and don't engage and don't state the case to try and bring about that ceasefire”.

She also warned that refusing to go now could have serious impact on relations between Ireland and the US into the future.

“I would be very clear that this is actually a positive that we can go and we can talk,” she said.

“There are very few people who are invited into the White House in the way that we are and if we turn around and reject that, the implications I think not just for this year but for years ahead, it is pretty significant.

“You have to think to the future, not just now.”

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Main image shows Justice Minister Helen McEntee in the Newstalk studio, 18-1-24. Image: Newstalk