I was pleasantly surprised that the Irish Independent published my statement: _______ Jana Lunden, founder of Irish conservative women’s group Natural Women’s Council, believes the visit is an opportunity to strengthen the “extraordinary historic relationship” between Ireland and the US. “Whatever someone’s personal feelings about Donald Trump, he is the president of the United States,” the Meath-based woman said. “Personal dislike shouldn’t get in the way of the respect Ireland and America have traditionally had for one another.” Ms Lunden has been living here for 23 years and said she worries that Irish society is moving away from “evidence-based policy” and towards “ideology”. “I think we should be having that same open debate about so many issues: gender and critical race theory in schools, protection of women’s single-sex sports and spaces, migration, neutrality, funding foreign wars and freedom of speech,” she said. She added that she hopes Mr Trump’s arrival will encourage the Irish political class to “put the people back at the centre of decision”.