Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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The Chairman raised an important point about the non-appointment of an ambassador from the United States for over 12 months. That seems extraordinary, given that we are supposed to have good relations with the United States. The fact that they would leave the embassy without an ambassador for that length of time indicates a certain detachment or disconnection. I do not know whether it is even within our remit but we should be making our views known, either to the Department or to the embassy staff.

I would regard that as not a good indicator of President Obama's interest. We have received tremendous support from Administrations in the United States in recent times but the Obama Administration has not given any indication of any real interest in Ireland.