Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The President's message to this country was, "We want you to succeed". As I outlined, we covered a range of issues to which Deputy Martin referred. I briefed him on the decisions taken by the Government in respect of the banks, the jobs initiative and the work that will continue following the comprehensive spending review as we prepare for the budget. I also explained to him about our relations with our European colleagues and about the devolution of authority to the Finance Ministers in respect of an interest rate reduction in this country's bailout deal. I expressed to him the enthusiasm and great support I detected in the United States, both in Washington and in New York, among Irish-American business and other potential investors in this country and I elaborated on that.

The President said that the United States is quite a distance from the evolution of a tax package. That arose in respect of the corporate tax rate which we retain. Tax laws in the United States are both complex and voluminous. The President indicated that they were at the start of a very long process in the US but that there should be continuous contact between officials in this country and his Administration about developments. I gratefully accepted his offer.

The President also said in respect of immigration, which I know is of interest to Deputy Martin, that while the perception was that this might be a Hispanic problem only, there are other nationalities who had an interest in the matter being sorted out as well.

We covered all of the issues, from the comprehensive spending review to our intention of getting the deficit below 3% by 2015, rebuilding trust with our European colleagues, ambassadors, politicians and others. The discussion lasted approximately 45 minutes.

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