Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, together.

On Thursday, 9 February I attended the Invest in Ireland Roundtable in New York organised and hosted by President Bill Clinton. I am deeply grateful to him for his commitment and efforts to support Ireland as the Government intensifies its national recovery efforts. He promised his assistance to Ireland at the Global Irish Economic Forum held in Dublin Castle last October and delivered on this commitment in New York through top level engagement with a range of US investors and companies. This presented a significant opportunity for the Government to highlight improved investment opportunities in Ireland for existing US investors and leading US executives who do not yet have a substantial business interest here.

One clear message from the Invest in Ireland event hosted by President Clinton was that existing investors had faith in Ireland and the Irish people and our capacity to bring about economic recovery. More generally, there was an acknowledgement that Ireland represents a highly attractive investment opportunity and I expect that over the coming period, IDA Ireland will follow up closely on all the contacts made.

The investment round table was followed by a broader Invest in Ireland forum that was hosted by me, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton. President Clinton also attended and addressed this audience. I briefed members of the Global Irish Network and other friends of Ireland on the round table's outcomes and we discussed further opportunities for deepening economic links between Ireland and the United States. The response again was excellent and I commend all those involved in the Global Irish Network on their ongoing support.

The following week I returned to the United States for a series of further engagements that represented further opportunities to promote Ireland as a place of excellence in which to invest and do business. I also attended a function in aid of the Children's Medical and Research Foundation. Between 15 and 17 February, I visited New York and Boston, where I met more business and political leaders, senior executives of IDA client companies and senior tourism representatives. My key messages were that Ireland is indeed open for business, that the economic strengths which attracted foreign direct investment in the past, in particular from the United States, are even more attractive at present and there never has been a better time for US companies to invest in Ireland and its people, whether they are IDA client companies that already have a presence here and are considering expansion or companies that may be considering investing here for the first time. During my visit, I had meetings in both New York and Boston with senior executives of a number of companies that already have significant investments in Ireland and which employ nearly 10,000 people between them.

In New York, I had a meeting with Mayor Bloomberg in City Hall. I also attended the launch of Tourism Ireland's new marketing campaign and met many senior tourism trade representatives who will be marketing Ireland to their client base across the United States. I visited Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and during our meeting I took the opportunity of inviting him to lead a trade mission to Ireland. I attended a dinner hosted by the American Ireland Fund at which I met a number of senior executives of companies that are leaders in the financial services industry and other sectors. I also attended a business breakfast hosted by the Irish American Partnership and addressed an audience at an event hosted by Enterprise Ireland for business contacts and clients in Boston and the wider Massachusetts area, including companies in the life sciences, ICT, software and financial services industries. My visits to New York and Boston continued the theme of the Invest in Ireland round table and forum, namely, now is the time to invest in Ireland. Similar to the round table event, I was greatly encouraged by the positive responses I received about Ireland and the potential for future investment. In addition to the economic and business focus of my visits, I took the opportunity of my first visit to Boston as Taoiseach to meet the Irish-American community there and to address students at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on the theme of reasserting Ireland's place in the world.

The Government will continue to ensure that clear and positive messages are conveyed directly to key business and political interests in the United States. It also will use the unique global opportunity of St. Patrick's Day to bring these messages to a wider audience both within the United States and in all our key global markets, namely, now is the time to invest in Ireland's recovery and that we are open for business.

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