Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 13, inclusive, together.

I had a telephone conversation with President Biden on the evening of Monday, 17 June. He congratulated me on my recent appointment as Taoiseach and I thanked him for his enduring friendship to our country. We spoke of the deep and growing co-operation between our two countries, built on deep historical and ancestral ties, on a range of issues. We discussed the deepening of our economic ties, the importance of the two-way flow of investment for both our economies, and how the US and Ireland can continue to work together in areas of great importance to those business-to-business links, including in cybersecurity.

I thanked President Biden for his contribution and that of the United States to peace in Northern Ireland. I welcomed the ongoing work of the US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs, Joe Kennedy, in supporting initiatives to bring sustainable economic development to Northern Ireland. We agreed on the essential role of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement in maintaining not only political stability but also the efficient functioning of government in the North for the benefit of all of the people in Northern Ireland. I updated him, as co-guarantor of the agreement, on some of the work that is going on under the shared island initiative and the work the Government is doing to support the Northern Ireland institutions.

I briefed President Biden on my attendance at the global summit on peace in Ukraine in Switzerland on 15 and 16 June and my engagement with Vice President Kamala Harris, who was attending on behalf of the US. The President and I agreed on the need to continue to support Ukraine in every way we can. I thanked him for his personal commitment to this effort and all that he and his Administration are doing to support Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression.

The President and I also discussed the conflict in the Middle East and the need for an immediate ceasefire. I outlined my views on the horrific humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding. I thanked the President for his ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire and a permanent end to the conflict. We shared the view that an immediate ceasefire is required and a two-state solution is the way to achieve permanent peace and stability in the region. Of course, we agreed and reiterated that all hostages held by Hamas must be released and on the need for unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. As I said, we both reiterated our commitment to a two-state solution as the only way to ensure a just and lasting peace.

I finished by wishing President Biden and the American people well.

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