Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Did the Taoiseach discuss with President Obama the continuation of the post of Special Envoy to Northern Ireland? There was a rumour that it might not continue, although I hope that is not the case. We in this country greatly value the continuing interest of successive United States Governments in our problems.

While we know this country is not regarded as a tax haven, the definition used by the General Audit Office in the USA is very loose and equates Ireland with countries such as Liechtenstein and other locations that are clearly tax havens. This is not the case for Ireland and it is important we make that crystal clear. Those responsible for inward investment from the United States should not be under any illusions on that point. For general consumption we should deal with the matter.

The last time I was in New York, I met a group of young Irish-American businessmen and women. Many of them had never been to Ireland. As a result of their genuine interest in building relations between their generation and Ireland, it would be worthwhile to put in place a programme for young business people who would be brought here from the States to see the developments we are making in software, intellectual property and our capacity for research and future innovation, and vice versa. As the Taoiseach is aware, at least 80,000 people work in Irish-owned firms in the United States. A reciprocal business programme on a six-month or yearly basis would be beneficial.

Most Irish university presidents must raise money in the States from philanthropic sources and so on. The detail given by the Taoiseach stated there would be a co-ordination of activities of Irish universities and higher education institutes. This is the key to the future. The world will change utterly again in the next 20 years with developments in the Internet, genetics and robotics. What sort of co-ordination of activities is envisaged?

The detail also stated there will be extended secondary school linkages and development of curriculum materials between the US and Ireland. What is meant by co-ordinated links between schools in the States and Ireland? Will a programme be set up whereby Irish secondary schools can travel to the States for classes and vice versa? Will the Taoiseach elaborate on the development of curriculum materials?

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