Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I have had the opportunity to meet with ambassador Dan Rooney on several occasions since his appointment by President Obama as the United States ambassador to Ireland. As Deputies will be aware, ambassador Rooney is a long time friend of Ireland and his appointment as ambassador was widely welcomed by the Deputies of this House.

I was present when ambassador Rooney presented his credentials to President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin on http://www.president.ie/3 July 2009. He subsequently paid me a courtesy call on 28 July and we had the opportunity to discuss substantively his new role as ambassador to Ireland and the importance of our bilateral relationship. We spoke about a number of key areas of interest including ongoing support for the peace process, the importance of continued North-South co-operation, the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform, the current economic situation, taxation issues and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the US-Ireland Strategic Review.

I had the opportunity to meet again with ambassador Rooney following the appointment by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of Declan Kelly as the United States Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland. I met with Declan Kelly and ambassador Rooney in Dublin on 17 September where we discussed, in particular, the US role in developing North-South economic co-operation and the scope for real innovation and co-operation in the context of the all-island economy.

Ambassador Rooney also attended the Global Irish Economic Forum from 18 to 20 September where, on the margins of that event, we had the opportunity to discuss the opportunities which exist to further develop the links between Ireland and the US and the importance of harnessing the experience and expertise of our diaspora. My most recent meeting with ambassador Rooney was in Farmleigh on 11 October on the occasion of the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Dublin.

The US Ireland relationship remains a key priority for the Government. As we continue to develop this relationship, particularly in the context of implementing the recommendations of both the US-Ireland Strategic Review and the Global Irish Economic Forum, I will continue to meet regularly with ambassador Rooney on these issues.

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