Róisín Shortall
Question:120 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with the US Secretary of State; and the issues discussed at that meeting. [13341/10]
View answerTuesday, 30 March 2010
Questions (66, 67)
Billy Timmins
Question:123 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of his visit to the United States of America for St. Patrick’s Day 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/10]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 123 together.
I accompanied the Taoiseach on his St Patrick's Day visit to Washington D.C. from 15-18 March 2010 and to his meetings with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Pat Leahy and Chris Dodd, Congressman Ritchie Neal and other members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Group. I also had a very useful bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
On St. Patrick's Day, I accompanied the Taoiseach to his bilateral meeting with President Obama. The discussions with the President covered a wide range of priority issues for Ireland and the United States including global economic developments, Northern Ireland, Middle East, Afghanistan and immigration reform. Following the bilateral meeting, President Obama attended the lunch hosted by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in honour of the Taoiseach at the US Capitol. President Obama and First Lady Obama later hosted the Taoiseach and his delegation at the evening White House reception and Shamrock Ceremony. The Taoiseach and I took the opportunity to repeat the open invitation to President Obama to come to visit Ireland and assured him of a great welcome from the Irish people when he comes.
The Taoiseach and I also had the opportunity to meet with Vice President Joe Biden when he and Dr. Jill Biden hosted the Taoiseach and his delegation at a St Patrick's Day breakfast in his residence. I joined the Taoiseach in his meetings with Senators Dodd and Leahy, and with Congressman Neal and other members of the Friends of Ireland group in Congress. I also joined the Taoiseach in his meeting with his Economic Advisory Board and members of the Global Irish Network. We took the opportunity to update this group on the progress made in dealing with the economic downturn and the Government's preparations to position Ireland to take full advantage of the upturn. I also briefed the meeting on progress made since the Global Economic Forum in Farmleigh in September.
During my meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, 16 March, we discussed a broad range of foreign policy issues, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, international aid, conflict resolution and immigration issues. We agreed new areas for cooperation including cooperation on a joint event on Hunger at the UN Millennium Goals Summit in New York next September. I also conveyed our appreciation for the longstanding and ongoing support of the United States to securing peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and for the Secretary's personal support for the Hillsborough Agreement on the transfer of policing and justice powers.
On the evening of 16 March, the Taoiseach and I attended the Ireland Fund of America dinner which honoured Secretary of State Clinton. The dinner was attended by President Bill Clinton and representatives of a wide cross section of Irish America.
Earlier that day, the Taoiseach announced the appointment of Gabriel Byrne as Ireland's first cultural ambassador in the United States.
This year's St Patrick's Day programme in Washington DC again provided Ireland with unrivalled access to promote Ireland's economic, political and cultural interests at the highest levels in the US Administration and Congress.