Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, together

On 7 July, I hosted a working lunch in Government Buildings for the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Our discussions covered a number of key issues including progress on achieving the millennium development goals; the report of the Government's hunger task force; and the global challenge of climate change, including preparations for the UN summit which will take place in Copenhagen in December.

During the course of our discussions I raised our concerns regarding the serious situation of the kidnappings of the two volunteer workers with Goal in Sudan, which, thankfully, was recently resolved successfully. I also pledged the ongoing support and assistance of Ireland for the work of the Secretary General and of the UN in general.

On 22 September, I attended a high-level meeting on climate change in New York. This was convened by the UN Secretary General in order to gather political momentum in the run up to the forthcoming UN summit in Copenhagen. The meeting, which took place ahead of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, was well attended at Heads of State and Government level and was the biggest ever gathering of political leaders to discuss climate change with a view to reaching what is hoped will be a comprehensive and effective international agreement. The overall thrust of the interventions made at the meeting was one of political commitment to do more to address climate change. At the plenary session, Chinese President Hu laid out a new plan to tackle China's emissions, tying them to economic growth. President Obama outlined his Government's work on climate change since he took office and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to act decisively.

During my intervention I said that we needed to take action now that is proportionate to the challenge facing us and that we must have meaningful proposals on the table in December on the basis of the Bali action plan which provides a clear framework for an international agreement. The EU has already led the way with a commitment to a 20% reduction in emissions, to be stepped up to 30% as part of a global deal. The global community must play its part in ensuring a fair and balanced overall agreement.

Regarding my travel plans for the remainder of 2009, it is my intention to attend the December European Council in Brussels and to attend the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. I will also attend the next summit of the British-Irish Council to be held on 13 November in Jersey.

I did not formally meet the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board during my visit to the United States in September. I last met the board during my St. Patrick's Day trip to the United States Eearlier this year as I reported to this House on 20 May last. Currently, I have no plans to travel to the US again in 2009. One would expect that I will travel to the US next March for the usual St. Patrick's Day celebrations. A number of the members of the board were in attendance at the Global Economic Forum in Farmleigh over the weekend of 18 to 20 September and I met them informally on that occasion. I also met some of them informally at an event which I addressed at the Amercian-Irish Historical Society while in New York on 22 September. My Department maintains contact with the board primarily through the Irish embassy in Washington, as well as through visits and meetings.

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