Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.

In recent months, my predecessor, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, visited the United States to participate in the traditional ceremonies celebrating St. Patrick's Day and to address a joint sitting of the Houses of Congress. In the course of these visits, he met with President Bush, where they discussed the issue of the undocumented Irish as well as a range of international issues.

He also met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and with Congressman Richie Neal and the Friends of Ireland group, Governor Deval Patrick and with Senator Hillary Clinton, while he spoke by telephone to Senator Barak Obama. He also met with Senator Ted Kennedy in the course of his visits and I know that this House would wish to convey our best wishes to Senator Kennedy at this time.

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