Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The visit of President Obama, similarly to the visit of Queen Elizabeth, offers unparalleled opportunities to showcase Ireland on the international stage. These historic visits provide us with a significant opportunity to focus on economic, trade, investment and tourism opportunities with Britain and the US, our two most important economic partners. Naturally, there will be a high level of international media interest, which will provide an opportunity to put out a positive and forward-looking message that Ireland is open for business.

The Government, in consultation with State agencies, will fully maximise the opportunities that the visits and media attention provide to promote Ireland's economic recovery. As I speak, Tourism Ireland has extensive promotional programmes in place throughout Britain, America and other markets. The Irish-US economic relationship is mutually beneficial and is stronger now than at any other time in our history. Some 95,000 Irish people are employed by US companies using Ireland as a gateway to 500 million European consumers, and Irish companies in turn employ 82,000 Americans across all 50 states. US investment in Ireland stands at $165 billion, which is greater than US investment in Brazil, China, India and Russia combined. World business leaders such as Microsoft, Google, Intel and Facebook recognise Ireland as a pre-eminent location for fresh thinking and a global hub for innovation. Ireland is still regarded as a good place to invest and we have many strategic advantages to attract global investors in the long term.

Our partnership with the US in the fight against global poverty and hunger is important to us, and we regard it as a central element in our foreign policy and Ireland's role in the world. We are also working closely with the US in the area of collaborative research and development among researchers and industry to generate innovation in the marketplace and lead to improvements in health care, disease prevention and technological innovation. Our bilateral relationship is innovative and far-reaching, and the opportunity to highlight these connections during the President's visit has tremendous promotional value for Ireland and the potential to benefit Irish society as a whole.

In March, when President Obama announced his intention to visit Ireland this year, he characterised the visit as a significant statement of confidence in Ireland. The forthcoming visit will shine a much-needed light on the many positive qualities that have made Ireland renowned throughout the world - our youth and resilience, our ingenuity and ability. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our people over many generations and across many continents, including those who, like Edmund Burke, foresaw and contributed to the success that America would achieve as a nation.

Yesterday the Taoiseach outlined the details of President Obama's visit to this House and advised Members that arrangements for the President's visit are close to being finalised, with a number of senior officials travelling to Dublin in the coming days to agree the final details. The programme will include a visit to Moneygall, and President Obama is expected to give a public address in Dublin. This event is intended as a public welcome to the President and First Lady.

In view of the short duration of his visit, I understand there are no plans, with the exception of his visit to Moneygall, for President Obama to travel outside Dublin on this occasion. As Deputies will appreciate, there have been many attractive and generous invitations issued for consideration by the President, but unfortunately it has simply not been possible to accommodate them. I listened to the statement made by the Deputy and acknowledge the significance of Edmund Burke. I will convey to the visiting party the statement that was made here this evening in the hope that, if not on this occasion then perhaps on a future occasion, there may be suitable recognition of the work and significance of Edmund Burke.

I know that people from all across Ireland will come to hear the President make his address. The President's visit is an historic opportunity to put Ireland and our people on view before an international audience. It is an opportunity to show Ireland at its very best, to focus on our trademark tradition of warm hospitality, and to celebrate our rich and diverse cultural heritage. The economic benefits will extend across the Irish economy, far beyond the few locations the President will visit in person. We hope the images of President Obama in Ireland will encourage other visitors to follow in his footsteps. Together, the visits of the US President and Queen Elizabeth will showcase Ireland to a huge audience of potential visitors in Britain, the US and across the globe, and have the potential to deliver a major boost to Irish tourism in 2011 and beyond.

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