Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 July 2014

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Questions (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)

Gerry Adams

Question:

50. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to California; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26567/14]

Gerry Adams

Question:

51. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had with the Governor of California, Mr. Jerry Brown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26568/14]

Gerry Adams

Question:

52. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the organisations, businesses and agencies he met during his visit to California. [26569/14]

Gerry Adams

Question:

53. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he had meetings with any of the emigrant Irish groups in California during his recent visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26570/14]

Gerry Adams

Question:

54. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he had any conversations on the issue of the undocumented Irish during his recent visit to California. [26571/14]

Written answers

Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 to 54, inclusive, together.

I travelled to the United States on Wednesday, 4 June, for a three-day programme in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley area of San Francisco. The aim of my visit was to help cement and reinforce existing investor relationships, as well as build new connections, with a view to securing new jobs and investment for Ireland, and supporting exporting Irish firms and entrepreneurs. Throughout the visit, I emphasised the progress we have made towards economic recovery and highlighted Ireland’s strengths as a location for investment and high-potential start-ups and ambitious entrepreneurs.

I visited the headquarters of a number of companies, including some of the most significant multi-national companies located in Ireland who, between them, employ close to 16,000 people here. The companies I visited included: Apple, Hewlett Packard, eBay, LinkedIn, Facebook, Tesla Motors, Google, CISCO, Yelp, Workday, New Relic, PCH International, and AirBnB. I also met representatives from Boeing, Cubic Telecom and Voxpro.

During my visit, I also opened the Enterprise Ireland Access Silicon Valley event, and met with the representatives of companies participating in the programme. This programme assists Irish companies in breaking into the US market and partnering with US firms. I had the opportunity to meet exporting Irish companies who have recently secured significant contracts with US partners located in California.

I also addressed an event organised by IDA Ireland for its client companies and prospective investors in Ireland. My programme also included a meeting with representatives of the Global Irish Network based in the West Coast area. Ambassador Anderson and Consul General Grant jointly hosted an event at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco, where I met members of the Irish community and local GAA clubs. I had a brief opportunity to meet the Mayor of San Francisco, Mr. Ed Lee, in the margins of this event.

I also met with the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, during my visit. Our discussions focused on strengthening the strong economic, trade, investment and tourism links between Ireland and California. Naturally, I raised the issue of undocumented Irish immigrants and the prospect of immigration reform in the US in this discussion.

Governor Brown is a strong champion of immigration reform and has introduced a number of progressive legislative Bills at State level in California aimed at improving conditions for the undocumented in California.

Since my own U.S. visit and that by then Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to Washington D.C. to engage with key political and community leaders on the issue, political controversy has arisen in the U.S. Congress in relation to unaccompanied migrant children from Central America  who are seeking to enter the United States via its southern border. This has impacted negatively on the prospects for wider immigration reform legislation being achieved over the period ahead. On June 30, President Obama announced that he intends to address certain immediate immigration-related matters via his executive powers within existing U.S. law.

I must stress that this issue remains a very important focus for this Government. The extent and nature of any action that the U.S. Administration will be ready to take remains to be seen.  The legal terrain involved is highly complex and there is clearly no guarantee as to the outcome that can be achieved for Ireland’s interests. 

We are continuing to press our case at all levels through Ambassador Anderson and her Embassy team in Washington D.C. and the Irish American community groups with whom they are working closely.

Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, resubmitted.