Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 3

Written Answers. - Official Engagements.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

93 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meetings in the United States with Vice-President, Mr. Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser, Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. [7278/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

I met with Vice-President Cheney, Secretary of State Powell and the National Security Adviser, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, over the course of my visit to the United States from 27 February to 1 March. The meetings were extremely useful and took place in a very positive atmosphere which provided further confirmation of the strength of our bilateral relations and the continuing importance which the new administration attaches to Irish issues.

In my meetings with the Vice-President, the Secretary of State and the National Security Adviser, we discussed current developments in the peace process, and they confirmed the administration's firm commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the US intention to continue to play a positive role in relation to developments in Northern Ireland. We also discussed developments in the UN Security Council, including our role as chair of the Angola Sanctions Committee, the current sanctions against Iraq and the Middle East peace process, particularly in the context of the Secretary of State's recent visit to the region. In addition, the meetings gave me an opportunity to brief the administration on Ireland's strong economic performance.