Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the foreign visits he plans to undertake during the remainder of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29471/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach his plans for official visits abroad until the end of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29616/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his intervention at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2008. [30109/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting in Dublin on 22 September 2008 with the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. [31951/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his intervention at the United Nations in New York on 25 September 2008. [32382/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meetings at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32697/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to New York; the names of the persons who accompanied him; the mode of transport used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32698/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the official visits overseas he has planned for the remainder of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34897/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach the programme for his visit to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35745/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his official visit to China. [37027/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the Europe-Asia summit in China. [37028/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to China. [37593/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 13, inclusive, together.

On 22 September, I met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority. We discussed the current situation in Palestine in general and the prospects of progress towards an agreed two state solution.

I travelled to New York to attend the UN high level meeting on the millennium development goals on 25 September. I spoke on the topic of hunger at a round table discussion on food security. During the course of my visit I launched the report of the hunger task force in the presence of the UN Secretary General. As I mentioned in the House last week the task force on hunger report was very well received. I was accompanied by my programme manager, my private secretary, the Government press secretary, two senior officials from my Department, and my personal protection officer. The delegation travelled to New York on a scheduled commercial flight.

I visited China from 22 to 25 October. The purpose of my visit, in addition to attending the Asia-Europe, ASEM, summit in Beijing, was to further strengthen bilateral and trade relations between China and Ireland and to assist with developing co-operation in new sectors, including financial services.

I led a trade mission involving approximately 100 Irish businesses and organisations and participated in a business breakfast organised by Enterprise Ireland, attended by more than 500 guests, as well as events organised by IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia. These events promoted Ireland as a source of world-class products and services. As a result of this trade mission, contracts were signed worth €65 million over the next 12 to 18 months. I also witnessed the signing of two important memoranda of understanding between our respective regulatory authorities in the financial services area, which will enhance opportunities in the financial services sector and facilitate greater investment in both directions.

During my visit to China, I met with Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. We discussed the potential for Ireland and China to do more business together, as well as EU-China relations and the international economic and financial crisis. I also gave a keynote speech on Ireland-China relations at the prestigious China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

I participated in ASEM VII, the Asia-Europe summit which is held every two years to promote political, economic and cultural co-operation between Asian and European leaders and to identify common strategies to address global issues that impact on both regions. Summit topics included discussions on the current international economic and financial situation, food security, and disaster preparedness and management. During the summit I highlighted the global issue of world hunger and emphasised the importance of collective action in tackling hunger and its underlying causes. I specifically referred to the key recommendations of the Government's hunger task force report — delivering on the millennium development goals, increasing agricultural productivity in Africa and action on maternal and infant malnutrition — as being highly relevant to our discussions.

Regarding my travelling plans for the remainder of 2008, I will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels in December.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Has a request been submitted by the Government for a meeting between the Taoiseach and the United States President-elect, Mr. Obama, to take place some time in the new year? Is it likely that the Taoiseach will visit Washington on the traditional St. Patrick's Day business and has a formal request been submitted in that regard? What is the up-to-date position — or the latest report, as the Taoiseach would call it — in respect of the undocumented Irish in the United States? Are we moving to prepare a new case on that?

What is the position regarding yesterday's visit by the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Vaclav Klaus? The Taoiseach has conducted himself properly on his visits abroad. In light of the remarks by Deputy Timmins and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, that Mr. Klaus's actions were entirely inappropriate in attending, while on a state visit, a function where unelected persons——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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These parliamentary questions relate to visits by the Taoiseach abroad, not visits by leaders of other states to Ireland.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As the Ceann Comhairle will understand, when I submitted my question I was not aware of the implications of the visit of the Czech President.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is reversing the questions.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach's predecessor invited former United States President, Mr. Bill Clinton, and former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, to help him in the run-in to the election campaign in 2007. However, it is a case of embarrassment for the Government that a visiting President has made political remarks in this jurisdiction while on a state visit. It is inappropriate and an embarrassment for the Government in the context of where we stand in Europe and our future in Europe. The Government should have taken a far clearer view on this issue.

It was within the Taoiseach's information that the President would attend a particular function. It might have been better if he had been warned that this would be inappropriate. Perhaps the visit should have been cancelled altogether. Does the Taoiseach have a view on this? Did the Department of Foreign Affairs advise the Government or was it simply a case of complacency in the knowledge that the president might well make the statements that he made, which are clearly an embarrassment to the Government and to the work it is setting out to do in respect of Ireland's future in Europe?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach may answer that question if he wishes, but he is not required to do so because it is not on the Order Paper.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have not put in a request for a meeting with the President-elect of the United States, Mr. Obama, other than to send my good wishes on his election. He should be allowed the opportunity to settle into his new post. He has many preparatory issues to deal with before taking office in January. As I said last week, we should leave it at that for now. We intend to work closely with his Administration in developing our bilateral relations with the United States, which continue to be excellent, specifically in regard to the issue of the undocumented Irish. That is an ongoing issue.

There is a new Congress and we will have to wait and see how the matter can be progressed. It is a difficult issue in the context of domestic politics in the United States, but it is an issue on which we continue to make our case in order to assist those in the difficult situation of not having proper status in terms of how they work and live in the United States. We had a helpful decision in regard to the visa programme and other efforts are being made to build on that. It is early days as far as the new Administration is concerned and we must wait to determine whether there is a political will to revisit this issue and find a creative and helpful solution.

Regarding the visit of the President of the Czech Republic, he is here on a state visit and I do not wish to enter into any controversy on the matter. He has well known views, which he has consistently held, on various aspects of policy and he has articulated those here in Ireland. I do not wish to add anything to what the Minister for Foreign Affairs had to say this morning. We have freedom of speech and we live in a democracy. People have views on this issue, with many of our own citizens expressing that view last May in the referendum, which we respect. We must move on from there and see how to deal with the issues that now arise. I do not wish to say anything that would in any way affect the cordial welcome that the President, Mr. Klaus, has received in Ireland. I understand he is visiting Czech citizens living in Cork today. He is welcome here and I wish him well on his return.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Taoiseach said, if the Czech President wants to convene a meeting of people who share his right-wing, Eurosceptic views, that is a matter for him. The issue, however, is whether he should use the occasion of an official state visit to this country to do so. I appreciate the courtesy the Taoiseach is displaying to the Czech President, which does not appear to be reciprocated. Does the Government intend to raise the issue in any form with the Government of the Czech Republic?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As I told Deputy Kenny, Deputies should confine themselves to the parliamentary questions under discussion.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am responding to the reply the Taoiseach gave to Deputy Kenny.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Gilmore does not have to do so. The question is not on the Order Paper.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach gave a reply and I am entitled to ask a supplementary question.

What was achieved by the Taoiseach's visit to China, which was truncated due to the domestic difficulties he was facing at home in trying to keep the Government together in the aftermath of the budget? Did he raise with the Chinese authorities any of the human rights questions that are of concern here, such as the issue of Tibet? Was any progress made on the possible establishment of direct air links between Ireland and China?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The visit to China achieved a lot. It was the second largest trade delegation ever to leave the State. The largest was also to China, in 2005. As I said, contracts worth €65 million were signed. I spoke to people on the trade delegation and they were very happy with the progress we are making in seeking to establish business relations with counterparts in China. We all know the importance of the emerging Chinese market. Ireland is displaying that the reach of Irish exports is now global, and not simply the UK, Europe and the United States. The Middle East and Asia are important markets that are growing in importance, and Ireland is very well regarded there.

Second, I attended the EU-ASEM meeting, as did many other prime ministers. It was an important debate. Our Asian colleagues attach great importance to the attendance of prime ministers at such a meeting. It gives us an opportunity to acquaint ourselves with colleagues from that part of the world. We might not do much trade with some of their countries but it is important that we show our interest and demonstrate the inter-dependence that exists between these trading blocs, particularly in the context of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, about which they are also concerned.

The conclusions of that meeting were broad agreement on the need for better co-ordination and on the need, at the important meeting in Washington next week, to see how the financial architecture that underpins the world's trading system, it having been established in the aftermath of the Second World War, can be updated to meet the requirements of the 21st century. These are huge issues that require detailed, face-to-face discussions. For that reason it was important that I and many other colleagues attended. Almost all the EU prime ministers, with the exception of the British Prime Minister, were in attendance.

On the other issue the Deputy mentioned, I do not intend to raise this matter any further beyond what the Minister for Foreign Affairs said this morning.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach's predecessor, following his visit to China, stated that he was "impressed" by what he noted was the Chinese Government's commitment to address human rights. Would the Taoiseach employ the same language following his recent visit? Does he have any evidence from his recent visit to express the view that he is impressed by the Chinese Government's commitment to address human rights abuses in its country?

On a different matter, the Taoiseach's colleague, Deputy Chris Andrews, and my colleague, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, participated in an international parliamentary delegation's visit to the Gaza Strip last weekend, where they were exposed to the reality of the ongoing Israeli blockade of that part of the Palestinian territories. Does the Taoiseach have any plans for, or will he give serious consideration to, a visit in his capacity as Taoiseach to the Palestinian territories and specifically Gaza and a meeting with Salam Fayyad, the Prime Minister of the Palestine National Assembly? I encourage him to do so.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In my view the most important foreign visit the Taoiseach will make before the end of the year is to the General Council meeting in Brussels in December. Will the Taoiseach consider breaking with precedent and come to the House before he goes to that meeting to outline what proposals he intends to put to his fellow prime ministers? One of the shortcomings of this House's dealings with Europe is that the House does not have an input before such meetings. It would be helpful to the Taoiseach and to the Irish people in general in understanding the way forward if we all had an input or were allowed to express a view before he went to the meeting, which is to be held on 13 December. Perhaps he will consider breaking with precedent and consult the House beforehand.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I had not intended breaking precedent as the Deputy suggested in respect of that meeting. There are ongoing discussions obviously and I will try to keep everybody up to date with that aspect.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach consider coming to the House with his proposals beforehand?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot anticipate at what stage we will be, up to the date of the meeting. I am available in the House on an ongoing basis to answer questions and provide updates, such as with regard to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach knows what I am asking.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Does he not think it would be more helpful if we heard from the Taoiseach in this House rather than hear from Brussels, when something is a fait accompli? We should have an input into the way forward.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Work is taking place in the Oireachtas committee. It will produce a report which can be brought before the House, if that is possible. We can take it from there. There are ways in which all these issues can be addressed.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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One of the strong feelings is that we should discuss things before Government Ministers go abroad.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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These matters are worthy of consideration at any time.

In respect of Deputy Ó Caoláin's question, I do not have plans to visit Palestine in the immediate future. I have been there on a number of occasions in other capacities. The EU has a common foreign and security policy and the Presidency of the Union usually takes on the role of keeping the Union abreast of developments or, more to the point, the lack of developments in the Middle East and regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, which we very much support. I met President Abbas when he visited this country recently so I had the opportunity to be personally briefed on the up-to-date position. I had also met him in his capacity as prime minister when I visited Gaza and the West Bank in the past.

With regard to human rights in China, I did not make a general reference to the matter. The meeting was primarily on an agenda on economic issues that had been set at the request of the Chinese, who were about to begin the ASEM summit. However, I made a general reference in my reply to the importance of the development of human rights. I believe it is only through encouragement and respectful dialogue that one can acquire a standing on this issue which might be influential in a positive way. We will continue at all times to encourage the Chinese Government along the path upon which it has embarked in this area as in others.