Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together.

The forthcoming visit of President Obama will be an historic occasion for Ireland and a very significant event celebrating the strong ties between the peoples of Ireland and the United States. I know he will receive a very warm welcome to our shores.

Plans for the President's visit are currently nearing finalisation. Consultation with officials in the US Embassy and the White House are ongoing and senior US officials will travel to Dublin in the coming days to agree the final details. The programme will include a meeting with President McAleese in Áras an Uactharáin and a bilateral meeting with myself. It is also expected that President Obama will pay a visit to Moneygall and that he will make a public address at an event in Dublin city.

The public address in Dublin will be part of a major entertainment event. The programme and the venue have yet to be confirmed. Entrance will be free of charge with tickets available to the general public and it will be designed as a welcome to the President and the First Lady of the US.

Organising an event on this scale will involve working closely with many public agencies as well as businesses and citizens. I appreciate that people will experience some disruption as a consequence and I want to thank everyone who will be affected both for their patience and their forbearance. This is an historic opportunity to put our capital and our people on view to a potentially huge audience around the world.

The full details of the overall programme will be finalised and announced as soon as they are available.

I expect that I will discuss a range of issues with President Obama during the course of his visit and I will emphasise how much the Irish people value our relationship and the enduring friendship with the United States. It is likely that our discussions will also cover the global economic situation and Ireland's determination to overcome the difficulties that we face. I will be stressing that we are open for business and will emphasise the many advantages to doing business here in Ireland.

The President's visit comes just after the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth. It is anticipated that up to 1,000 international media representatives will cover both visits. Taken together these visits will highlight Ireland and its people and will instil confidence and hope in a brighter future.

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