Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take it that as Ireland will hold the EU Presidency, the Taoiseach will be invited to participate in the G8 summit. Will the Taoiseach confirm that? Prime Minister Cameron's decision on the location of the summit is important and I welcome it.

The positive relations between the US and Ireland are beneficial in an ongoing sense, taking in social culture and economic life in both nations. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach made the visit and established contacts as outlined in his reply. Such engagement is extremely important but it is also vital that we use such contacts and visits to push for strategically important matters for this country.

As we can see from the debates leading into the American presidential election, corporation tax loomed large in rhetoric and articulation of policy by President Obama and his team. Has the Government put in place any new initiatives to withstand the pressure that will arise with regard to corporation tax on the American side, particularly repatriation of profits, disincentivising the establishment of companies overseas and so forth?

This occurred during the previous presidential election when the Government of the time put key IDA personnel in our embassy in Washington to lobby effectively on Capitol Hill and among political contacts in the United States on the issue of corporation tax, which is extremely important to our capacity to attract inward investment.

On immigration, the Taoiseach met representatives of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. When I was Minister for Foreign Affairs my Department launched the E3 visa initiative which, owing to political difficulties on Capitol Hill, moved away from a blanket demand for the immigration issue to be resolved. An E3 visa programme would enable us to create a legal framework to prevent illegal inward migration into the United States. From the contacts he made during his visit to the United States, will the Taoiseach indicate the position in respect of advancing the E3 visa and assisting those who are illegal in the United States?

I am pleased the Taoiseach met representatives of Zenith Technologies. Having met representatives of the company many years ago, I am pleased to note it continues to make good progress in the United States. Zenith Technologies illustrates the importance of small and medium sized Irish enterprises which can develop products and services that are needed worldwide and provide solutions to worldwide challenges.

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