Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On the Taoiseach's final point, I acknowledge that the Government has sought such assurances in the past and has raised the issue of Guantanamo Bay with the US Administration. In terms of the new administration, is it envisaged to go beyond the type of assurances that have been sought in the past? Specifically, is it intended to establish a regime of inspections which press reports at the weekend indicated was the Government's intention?

Does the Taoiseach intend to make direct contact with President-elect Obama? While I appreciate these are still early days, if President-elect Obama is to follow the precedent set by the Taoiseach, it will probably take a couple of weeks to conclude celebrations.

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