Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I understand it, President Obama will not visit Cork on this occasion. I am aware of his interest in Frederick Douglass and of Mr. Douglass's life and times. I had the opportunity when I was at the White House to present to President Obama a book in respect of Daniel O'Connell detailing references to Frederick Douglass. In fact, President Obama referred to people from Ireland who had received Congressional medals of honour for various deeds of valour, including one John King from Ballinrobe, a bust of whom was unveiled by Senator Chris Dodd last year.

With regard to the life and times of Frederick Douglass, I made the point to White House staff and to President Obama that the waters that divide us as countries were those that brought the Africans to the United States for slavery purposes and the Irish to that country for freedom. On St. Patrick's Day, remembering St. Patrick, too, was a slave, President Obama showed he fully understood the history his own people endured. He might have liked to have been able to go to University College Cork on this occasion but his schedule does not permit it. One hopes in the years ahead there will be other opportunities for the President to return to Ireland.

See this speech in context