Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The people of the United States made a very clear choice in their election yesterday and, both by the popular and collegiate vote, have elected Donald Trump to be President and Mike Pence to be Vice President. I have written to both men this morning congratulating them on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland. I pointed out that we remembered Hillary Clinton for the work that she did during the years, with her husband, in the peace process and for being a good friend to Ireland in general. I also pointed out to the President-elect that the Government would continue to work very closely with his new administration, as all previous administrations here had worked with whatever President had been elected in the United States. I made the point that the changed situation in both the US Senate and Congress meant that the Republican Party would be in a position, if it so wished, to bring forward a comprehensive Bill on immigration which should be able to deal with undocumented Irish people. Deputy Gerry Adams will recall that Senator John McCain who has been re-elected on this occasion was co-sponsor of major immigration legislation, with the late former Senator Ted Kennedy. Obviously, we will endeavour to have that legislation put back on the agenda with the new administration when President-elect Trump sets it up.

On the peace process and the support the United States has always given to it, we will start the process of making acquaintance with, and arrangements to meet, the relevant personnel in the new US administration. We will make a request for an opportunity to speak to the President-elect. As I said, I wrote to him and the Vice President-elect formally this morning on behalf of the Government and the Irish people. We intend to work very closely with the new administration on the matters mentioned by Deputy Gerry Adams and others of wider import.

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