Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I once again warmly endorse the work being done in the US and it is a matter of the Taoiseach's judgment what issues he wants to raise. Having said that, it is disappointing that he did not get the opportunity to raise the Pat Finucane case. I find that sometimes these matters do not have to be raised publicly, especially if dealing with people who might not necessarily be involved in politics. It can also be done quietly on the side, which sometimes works as well.

The Taoiseach, uniquely, will have the opportunity on St. Patrick's day to meet President Obama, the US Secretary of State and the leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives. He will meet leaders in the labour movement, the arts and business across a spectrum of opinion in the US. Geraldine Finucane, who is Pat Finucane's widow, will also be in the US at that time to campaign, as she has done for over 20 years. I suggest this as an opportunity for the Taoiseach to raise this matter very publicly.

There is also the issue of the so-called illegals, the Irish people who, through no fault of their own, have ended up in the US with no status. We have just referred to at least 100,000 people who have left this country during the Taoiseach's time in the Government. I was in the North on Sunday and there are many other issues of concern there which could usefully be raised. I can drop a note to the Taoiseach on those matters, if that would be helpful.

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