Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
142. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his lunch meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo; the issues that were discussed; the responses that were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of my recent visit to the US, I attended a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat-ISIS on Wednesday 6 February in Washington DC. The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and we had the opportunity for a useful and wide-ranging discussion over lunch.
As with all of my meetings with the US Administration and Congressional leaders, Northern Ireland was a central focus; specifically, the importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement in the current Brexit context, and supporting peace and reconciliation. Secretary Pompeo acknowledged the importance of this task, and the important role successive US Administrations have played in supporting the peace process.
I outlined the Government's ambitions for the US-Ireland relationship, as set out in our new US and Canada Strategy, which includes protecting and growing our strong, reciprocal economic relationship; and ensuring our people can work and live more easily in both the US and Ireland.
Our discussion also covered some of the issues which arose in the course of the Ministerial meeting; Ireland's contribution to the aims of the Global Coalition; as well as a number of long-standing and emerging foreign policy priorities for both the Government and the US Administration.
