Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department will meet certain of the costs associated with these visits. However, as detailed arrangements for the visits have not been finalised it is not possible at this point to give an accurate estimate of the amount involved. The costs must be seen in the context of the historic nature of the visits and the opportunities they present, not only for trade, investment and tourism but also as regards enhancing Ireland's international reputation and profile at a critical juncture.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is not really an answer. Reports have been circulating in the media about the Garda and a bill for €25 million for security for the visits. Nobody knows the figure - certainly I do not - but perhaps the Taoiseach knows whether that figure is part of such a cost or is the total considerably greater? Who will pay for it? Is it to come from the Taoiseach's Department?

The public are entitled to know what the cost of such visits will be, given they are being slaughtered with cuts, left, right and centre. If the figure of €25 million, for example, is even close to accurate, let us think how many hospital beds could reopen and how many public amenities-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----or public services that were cut could be restored. Is it not merely rubbing the noses of the Irish public, who have been slaughtered with cuts, to invite one of the richest women in the world to this country for a jamboree or to spend millions on bringing over the American President when that President is involved in a war in Afghanistan, is arming and financing dictatorships in the Middle East, and so on? Is that an appropriate use of public money in these straitened times?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is entitled to make smart remarks if he so wishes. He should regard this as an investment. Two global figures are coming to visit this country. Regarding the Queen of England, it is the first time in 100 years that a reigning monarch has come here and this is the culmination of a great deal of work by a great number of people who brought about a peace situation. The Queen responded to the invitation from our Uachtarán to visit the country. The same applies in the case of the visit of the American President. The Deputy is aware of the extent of the investment by American business in Ireland and the fact that more than 100,000 people are thus employed, many more indirectly.

The Deputy's comment about spending the money allocated for the double visit does not appreciate the scale of the potential which exists for tourism, business, the development of our economy and the presentation in a global sense of our country and its people. This is very short-sighted on the part of a Deputy from a constituency where the last monarch landed on a visit to Ireland. The Deputy should look on this as an investment for the future. Detail of all of the costs, to the last cent in so far as public moneys are concerned, will be made available to the Deputy after the visit.

We know we recently allocated €3 billion to Anglo Irish Bank and INBS and will have to pay that sum for each of the coming ten years, based on a promissory note. I cannot tell the Deputy the exact cost of the double visit but I shall have the figure when the visits are over. It is an investment for the future and a brilliant opportunity to present our country in a global sense with two internationally recognised figures who will visit, along with many others who will be associated. I expect the vast majority of Irish people will welcome warmly both visitors to our shores. The Deputy should have the decency to do the same.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may ask a short supplementary.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach may be aware the previous visit to Dún Laoghaire was accompanied by a protest organised by none other than James Connolly. It was a justified protest because the monarch represented and symbolised vast inherited wealth and the subjugation of poor people in this country. To bring it up to date, is it not incredible for the Taoiseach to say we will only know the cost of these visits afterwards, when people are being slaughtered with cuts, left, right and centre, with the loss of vital services? The vulnerable in our society-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy already made this point.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Does the Taoiseach not have a responsibility to tell the public, before these visits, how much they will cost so that we can debate as a society whether that is the best way to spend that money rather than putting it into the services people need and into job creation programmes-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----rather than for a jamboree for one of the wealthiest women in the world and one of the world's most powerful men?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that in a previous existence the Ceann Comhairle made massive strides in dealing with sea-landing facilities in their mutual constituency and these will stand the test of time.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Our harbour has not been sold.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to give an up-to-the-cent figure for the costs associated with both visits.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A ballpark figure.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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All of these will be made available in due course but the Deputy should understand at least that other countries would give a lot for the opportunity to have two global figures visit our country in the space of a short time. I see this as an investment in business, for tourism, the development of the economy and the projection of Ireland as a country that has grown up, that faces the future, has dealt with adversity in the past and will do so again in the future. We will be a better people. Queen Elizabeth and President Obama are warmly welcome to our shores.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Taoiseach agree that, notwithstanding the importance of costs, the need to have value for money to underpin everything we do in public life, investment in tourism and other secondary benefits that may flow from such visits, the fundamental rationale for the visit of Heads of State - in this instance the Heads of State of Great Britain and the United States of America - is the normalisation of relationships that should exist between kindred countries, which have long historic links of family, kinship, investment, trade and so forth? It is the normal thing to do. Does the Taoiseach agree that the importance of the visit of the Queen of England is that it reflects the transformation in the set of relationships between the people of this island and the people of Great Britain? This is the ultimate motivating factor in welcoming the Queen of England at this juncture in our history when we have collectively travelled a significant journey towards peace and reconciliation. Above everything else, this is the fundamental reason this visit should be welcomed.

In the context of the visit of President Obama, we should consider the historic and very important links between our two countries, the powerful Irish diaspora in the United States and their sense of kinship with the island of Ireland throughout the generations. The visit of President Obama reflects the personification and manifestation of this strong and vibrant relationship which is still thriving and which is of value to the future of this country and to our diaspora in Great Britain and the United States.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Beidh fáilte roimh cuairt an Uachtarán Obama go hÉirinn. Ní aontaíonn Sinn Féin le go leor polasaithe atá ag teacht ón Teach Bán. Nuair a bhí seans agam, dúirt mé a leithéid leis na hUachtaráin Clinton, Bush agus Obama. Caithfimid bheith an-soiléir gur thacaigh Rialtas Mheiriceá leis an bpróiseas síochána in Éirinn. Síleann poblachtánaigh agus saoránaigh eile go bhfuil cuairt Banríon Shasana mícheart ag an am seo.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Ceist, más é do thoil é.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Maith go leor. Cuirfidh mé mo cheist i mBéarla. I find it rather patronising that the Taoiseach refers to this as a sign that Ireland has grown up as if, in some way, we were adolescent, immature or juvenile. A better mark of what is wrong with a section of Ireland is in the Nyberg report. However, I come directly to the issue. Does the Taoiseach agree that while some people may wish to welcome the Queen of England, others have the right to dissent, provided they do so peacefully and in a democratic way? There is an egalitarian tradition on this island-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, could we have the supplementary question, please?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----that is conscious of the history between the islands. We have yet to make our own history because we are still partitioned. Those of us who wish to point out these things and to celebrate republicanism as opposed to monarchy should have the right to do so.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Will the Taoiseach desist from speaking about US investment in Ireland as if they were here to do us a kindness?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is Question Time.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It has one of the highest returns on investment anywhere in the world with handsome profits. Is the Taoiseach aware that in the United States it is considered that the reason for President Obama's visit is to support his re-election campaign and how this will impact on the Irish American vote?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question is about what?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Is it not a little rich that the taxpayer, as well as bailing out European speculators, must now make a contribution to the re-election campaign of a United States President? In view of the fact that the royal family of Britain is one of the wealthiest families in the world and that this country is, figuratively, almost sleeping rough, will the Taoiseach ask the Queen if she might make a contribution towards her own bed and breakfast costs to assist the unfortunate taxpayers and go easier on them?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before you reply, Taoiseach, Deputy Clare Daly's question No. 14 is about the plans of the visit of President Obama. I wish to allow a supplementary.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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I will be brief as there has been some discussion on it already. I find it hard to believe that with a couple of weeks to go, the Taoiseach has no indication whatsoever of what the plans for President Obama's visit may be. I assume the Taoiseach has some idea. Out of respect to the House we deserve some indication of what they may be. Similarly, a question arises with regard to cost. The Taoiseach justifies the visits on the basis that they will contribute to enhancing Ireland's international reputation. Let us get real here. The Taoiseach will need something substantially more than the visit of these two individuals to enhance Ireland's reputation. I find reprehensible the idea of wining and dining them at our expense when so many cutbacks are being foisted on the backs of ordinary people. Many people will object to the fact that our money is being used.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we have a question please?

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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I do not believe the Taoiseach does not have the details of the costs or the plans of the visit and I wish to see them. It is not good enough to say this is an investment; the Taoiseach must quantify it. The 100,000 people working for US multinationals work here because of the profits those companies generate. However, that number is a fraction of the workforce of the country. The investment would be better made in jobs here rather than this visit.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is Question Time.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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That is the question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I agree with Deputy Micheál Martin in respect of the fundamental reasons for the visits of the Queen and President Obama. It is part of the continuation of the normalisation of relationships between countries. I commend the Deputy on the part he played when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs in dealing with issues in regard to Northern Ireland and on some of the actions he took, all of which were part of leading to that normalisation. I commend An tUachtaráin and her husband on the work they did and continue to do in respect of developments in Northern Ireland to bring about a situation where there is peace and harmony among all the communities. The elections under way in Northern Ireland are evidence of the first full term of office run by the Assembly. I trust that in the discussions we have on a continuing basis with the politicians and elected representatives from Northern Ireland and our counterparts in Britain we will continue to work on the development of the island economy of Ireland and for the benefit of all our people.

Deputy Adams spoke about the Teach Bán and the tacaíocht that the Stáit Aontaithe are giving us in Ireland and we will respect that. As the Deputy is aware, we have made a strong case for the continuation of the investment funds, especially in regard to vulnerable communities in Northern Ireland. However, this is a free country and visitors are welcome here. Deputy Adams is entitled to have his say, as he does. The vast majority of people will welcome the visits of the Queen of England and President Obama.

I note Deputy Higgins's comment to the effect that the reason the President is coming is because of his re-election campaign. I recall that many of the statements the Deputy made in the European Parliament, to where he was dispatched from Dublin West for a period, were not disconnected from his attempts to get back in here. Fair play to him, he is back from Dublin West. Politicians have in their nature a view of the future from which they are not themselves absent, as does the Deputy.

In respect of Deputy Daly's comments, I do not have the actual cost of both visits. Figures have been mentioned for the overall costs and they are extensive, obviously. These are two global personalities.

I do not have all the details of President Obama's visit. He will visit the village of some of his ancestors in Moneygall and it depends on the extent of his schedule here, which has not been finalised, so I cannot say to the Deputy what will happen or where he will visit from the time the wheels of his plane touch down on the tarmac until he leaves. That will be finalised between the American Administration and ourselves, and the House will be told in due in course.

When Deputy Higgins speaks about homelessness and problems people face, I understand that. I went to Cricklewood on Friday morning to talk to people who were homeless who are now being looked after by the Irish welfare personnel with some assistance from the local authorities in Brent and from the Government here through the Department of Foreign Affairs. While some of them strayed in former years, they at least had the opportunity to have employment and to raise a family across the water. We should not forget that. Between 750,000 and 1 million people from this country live in Britain and had the chance to do very well in many cases.

The 100,000 people here who work in American firms, who raise their families and get on with their lives, are grateful for that investment. One of the major American firms here is spending €500 million of its own money, without grant assistance, to put itself in a competitive position for future investment. I support that. Part of that is linked to the 12.5% corporation tax rate which has been of immense value for young men and women to get jobs in Ireland. Irrespective of Deputy Higgins's political philosophy, I am sure he supports that.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Despite what has been said this morning, I ask the Taoiseach to continue to promote Ireland as a tourist destination and to assure President Obama and Queen Elizabeth that they will be more than welcome to visit our constituency in Dún Laoghaire. We are spending a lot of money trying to promote our county and if the Taoiseach could invite President Obama or Queen Elizabeth to the constituency, the people there would be delighted to welcome them.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Maybe they should switch the Monte Carlo rally to Dún Laoghaire.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I also ask the Taoiseach to invite President Obama and Queen Elizabeth to the Oireachtas, if that would fit in with their plans, and I congratulate the Taoiseach for the good will. This is an invitation of good will in the season of Easter. It behoves us all not to get bound up with neurosis and costings and the details of the plan. It is often the case that people do not know their plans until they finally arrive. The main thing is that these people get a good, warm welcome. I advise people not to worry too much about the past because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. We should reflect on that.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Is that a confession?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I wonder will they travel around throwing cake to the peasants.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Mitchell O'Connor and Mathews for their comments, support and invitations, and for the Deputy Mathews's words of wisdom, particularly regarding sinners.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Father Mathews.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope we all have a future in that case. These visits are a brilliant opportunity to be availed of by the country and, on behalf of the people, I warmly welcome the visits of the Queen and President Obama.