Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Government maintains contact with the United States on a broad range of issues, both bilaterally and through European Union structures. Bilaterally, there are regular contacts between political leaders from our two countries, such as through those that took place during the recent visit by Vice President Biden to Ireland and the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington DC. These discussions typically cover a wide range of topics of particular interest to Ireland, such as immigration reform, as well as relevant foreign policy issues, development aid, economic and investment ties and support for human rights. My visit to the US in September for the UN General Assembly usually provides me with an opportunity for bilateral exchanges with senior US foreign policy officials.

In addition, our embassy in Washington regularly engages with members of the US Houses of Congress and officials in various US Government Departments on a wide range of issues, as do our consulates in the US at a regional level. Ireland is also party to contacts with the US by the European Union through the transatlantic dialogue, which includes a range of policy areas such as development co-operation, non-proliferation, energy security and the environment, as well as foreign policy.

With regard to military policy, Ireland maintains a long-standing policy of military neutrality which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This policy has been pursued by successive Governments and was reaffirmed in my Department's foreign policy strategy, The Global Island.

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