Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 16, inclusive, together.

I spoke on the phone with President-elect Obama on 18 November and congratulated him on his election success. I took the opportunity to stress the importance the Government attaches to Ireland's relationship with the United States. He expressed his desire that the relationship would continue to flourish in the coming years.

I commented on my visit to New York last summer. Ours is a mature two-way relationship and I fully expect it to further develop on that basis. I briefed the President-elect on the positive political developments in Northern Ireland with the resumption of meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive. I took the opportunity to personally invite him to Ireland. I also wrote to him on 20 January to convey my best wishes on his inauguration.

I expect to visit the United States in March for St. Patrick's Day. While the programme for my visit has not yet been finalised, I would expect to meet with the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board. My Department maintains contact with the board primarily through the Irish Embassy in Washington, as well as through visits and meetings.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think he would insult me.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Paula Dobriansky was the latest nominee of President Bush and she is returning to other duties. I understand the Obama Administration intends to continue with such an arrangement whereby a person from the State Department will continue to engage his or her capacities with the process and be helpful in every way possible in terms of confidence building and bringing his or her particular perspective, especially an economic one, to the question of the process and how he or she can help things along. We very much thank all those who have been appointed by previous US Presidents and we look forward to the new appointment and to having a positive working arrangement with the person appointed. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, will engage most often with the appointee.

On finding a solution for undocumented citizens, supporting our diaspora and addressing the plight of the undocumented in the United States are key objectives of the Government. Finding a resolution for our undocumented community is an important priority for us. We have pursued a bilateral solution to reforming our migration arrangements with the United States. This strategy has three key objectives — the solution for our undocumented; the establishment of a new long-term reciprocal working visa system known as the E3; and the working holiday agreement. A new working holiday agreement between the two countries has now been achieved. Detailed discussions are being held with senior members of Congress in respect of the second issue.

However, finding a solution for the undocumented remains our key priority in this area. In taking up the issue with the new US Administration and with Congress we are building on the extensive work on behalf of the undocumented the Government has carried out over recent years with many of those now within the Administration, and in co-operation with the Irish lobby for immigration reform. Since 2006, the Government has provided funding of $235,000 for this work.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I said in my earlier response, no detailed arrangements have been agreed yet regarding the visit. I hope to visit Washington and perhaps New York around St. Patrick's Day, and to meet with different interests there as my predecessors have done in the past. We have had no indication yet of any change to arrangements that have become established in recent times. I should not anticipate agreement on any issue until it is forthcoming, officially.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I shall invite him to the country first and, if he accepts, we can decide afterwards on the location.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will try to keep the US President out of GAA politics. Deputy Ó Caoláin raised several matters. These are substantive meetings and any suggestion to the contrary is rather ungracious. The Deputy's party has been a beneficiary of the process for a long time and, but for the fact that Irish Governments were able to get into such places, his party members might not have been able to make the visits they have made in recent times. The Government has had an excellent relationship with all US Administrations and these have brought real and direct benefits. They have been instrumental in insuring that political developments can take place. That level of engagement continues. I have no reason to doubt that President Obama will not be seized by some of these issues given his very wide and burdensome duties and obligations. There is no doubt that Ireland has enjoyed a level of interest from successive Administrations, indicative of the very close ties of kinship we have enjoyed with that country over many years.

The question of the undocumented is one that must be handled appropriately and in a way that might achieve progress for us. It is easy, as the Deputy might claim, to ratchet up pressure. Ratcheting up presure is not in itself the issue. There are many people of goodwill in the Houses of Congress who will be supportive in the right circumstances. Those circumstances have yet to be created because there are many countries with a diaspora and there are, therefore, many people of different origins who also have this problem. It has caused very serious domestic difficulty for many in Congress, and in the context of political debate over many years.

Rather than believing we must go in and start twisting arms all over the place, what we must do is build on the goodwill we have generated on this issue. We must be respectful of the fact that it is a difficult domestic question for the United States. It is one on which we are prepared to engage with that country, find incremental improvements, and try to deal with this issue. That means being mindful of the difficulties it creates rather than believing there is an entitlement we can expect. The approach must be sensible and sensitive to the domestic realities for both parties represented.

That, in no way, is to suggest we are not very determined to assist those who find themselves in this difficulty. As constituency Deputies we know of many who hold this status who wish to have it rectified as soon as possible. Their position denies them return to their own country and their loved ones. They miss many important occasions in family life, whether weddings, bereavements or suchlike, quite apart from the fact they cannot come home and socialise in their own country. This is a very human issue and is one with which I am especially acquainted. I wish to address it but I must approach it, as we all must, on the basis there are people who can and will assist, given the right circumstances. It is our job to try to create those circumstances and not to make an approach that would detract from establishing sufficient goodwill to make a decision possible.

There is no relenting by this Administration. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, has been assiduous in the conduct of his duties in this regard, given the high priority it is accorded in his Department, apart from the important aspect of our bilateral relationship it represents as an outstanding item to be resolved. On the basis that Guantanamo Bay is closing, I do not see the purpose of an inspection regime.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The assurances we have obtained are satisfactory to this Administration.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There is no evidence to the contrary. Such assurances are acceptable to us because it is in the interests of this relationship that we continue to conduct our business on that basis.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is not a very naive acceptance. The idea that Deputy Ó Caoláin can ratchet up pressure on one hand and not accept the word of an Administration on the other is naive.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is why the Deputy is where he is and we are where we are.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is wrong again. It is a question of mutual respect. If one wants respect, one must show it.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On the basis of the assurances we received and with no evidence to the contrary, I have no reason to doubt the assurances I have received — none. Deputy Ó Caoláin can continue with his suspicions and conspiracy theories as long as he likes, and when he expects to get something done, he can give me a shout. He will be a long time waiting I would say.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the question of detainees, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform understand their officials met a senior State Department representative on the matter earlier this week. We have made clear that our general disposition is to be helpful, but we also believe the greatest possible degree of co-ordination at European level would also be helpful. There was a first discussion among EU Foreign Ministers at the end of last month and the Justice Ministers will consider the issue a fortnight from now. Following that, we will review where matters stand.