Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

I was in New York from 4 to 6 May last. During my visit I attended several events and gave a range of media interviews during which I stressed the progress in our economic recovery. My first engagement was when I paid my respects to those who died on 11 September 2001. On the evening of my arrival I attended an Irish community reception where I met a broad cross-section of the New York Irish and Irish-American communities.

The following morning, I attended a breakfast at the New York Stock Exchange where I met the chief executive. Also in attendance at the breakfast were top executives of IDA client and target companies and senior figures from the financial houses on Wall Street.

I participated in a lunch at the Council on Foreign Relations where I had the opportunity to meet the Council's chairman, Mr. Richard Haas, and to address an influential group of opinion formers. That evening I made the keynote address at the American Ireland Fund Gala at the Lincoln Centre which gathered together more than 1,300 of the most significant players in Irish America. I had a series of visits with US business leaders about potential investments and global economic prospects and had a meeting with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.

The trip provided a great opportunity for me to continue the work of rebuilding Ireland's reputation abroad. I reassured the business community in the United States that our rate of corporation tax would not change and pressed home the message that we are tackling our major economic challenges and are open and ready to do business.

Since taking office I have had two trips to the United States to restore and develop this crucial relationship. Monday's momentous visit by the President and First Lady was a tangible expression of the warmth and strength of the relationship between our two countries.

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