Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
26. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide information on the Invest in Ireland business forum, for IDA clients and target companies, that he hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, during his recent visit to America. [15523/13]
View answer48. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his visit to Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15420/13]
View answer54. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the meeting he had with the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, on 18 March; and if American immigration reform was discussed. [15525/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 48 and 54 together.
As part of the Government’s St. Patrick's Day "Promote Ireland" programme 2013, I visited Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington DC from 14-20 March.
In Atlanta, I undertook a range of business networking and investment promotion events. In particular, I hosted an "Invest in Ireland" business forum for IDA client and target companies, jointly organised by our Consulate General and the IDA. The event provided an excellent opportunity to reiterate to a target audience the strengths of Ireland as an investment location and to respond directly to participants' questions. In addition, I met and briefed senior management from a number of existing companies with major investments in Ireland, including Coca-Cola and UPS. I also met and briefed Atlanta-based members of the Global Irish Network and other key Irish leaders in Atlanta. On the political level, I held discussions with the Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, and invited him to lead a trade delegation to Ireland in the near future. I also met with Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia and discussed the prospects for progress in relation to immigration reform and in particular our interest in seeing a resolution to the situation of the undocumented Irish in the US.
In New Orleans, I addressed an event hosted by the Irish Network of New Orleans, one of the more recent additions to the Irish Networks in the US which are playing an important role in identifying ways in which Irish communities overseas can contribute to economic recovery at home. I also addressed the Ancient Order of Hibernians Annual St Patrick’s Day Ball and attended the opening of the new Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans.
During the Washington DC leg of my visit, I had a bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Kerry at the US State Department on 18 March. We discussed a range of subjects including Northern Ireland, the Irish economy, international issues including the Middle East peace process, and the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform in the US. In relation to the latter, I underlined the Government's appreciation for the priority which the new Administration is giving to this subject and reiterated our interest in seeing a resolution for the situation of the undocumented Irish in the US. Immigration reform was also one of the issues which both the Taoiseach and I discussed with President Obama during the bilateral meeting in the White House on 19 March. Later that day, both the Taoiseach and I met with Senators Patrick Leahy, Charles Schumer and John McCain to express our appreciation for the efforts they are making in the Senate on the issue. In addition, I met with the Friends of Ireland Congressional Group to underline our interest in seeing progress on the issue.
