Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is new information for me and very curious. I can confirm that he has not attended any Fine Gael fundraiser, to my knowledge.

I have appointed Deputy John Deasy as a Government envoy to the US Congress, particularly to deal with issues around migration and the undocumented Irish. It does not supersede anyone else's role. It does not supersede the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade or that of the ambassador. Of course, I agreed to it with the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, prior to making the appointment. Deputy John Deasy will report to me, but he will work under the umbrella of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and with the new ambassador, Mr. Dan Mulhall, who will travel there in September. The particular role relates to the US Congress because it is important that we have a greater presence on Capitol Hill. The Deputy worked there for a long period, 15 years, and has good connections and a good knowledge of how the US Congress works. It will be of particular value having somebody there, in addition to our staff who are already in Washington DC, lobbying individual Members of Congress to have changes made to legislation that would be to our benefit.

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