Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report, in detail, on the plans for President Obama's visit to Ireland. [8324/11]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the issues he plans to discuss with President Obama during his visit to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10477/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he has had any success in including a trade and economic investment forum event in the schedule of the US President Barack Obama during his visit here. [10716/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if US President Barack Obama will make a public address during his visit here. [10723/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together.

The forthcoming visit of President Obama will be an historic occasion for Ireland and a very significant event celebrating the strong ties between the peoples of Ireland and the United States. I know he will receive a very warm welcome to our shores.

Plans for the President's visit are currently nearing finalisation. Consultation with officials in the US Embassy and the White House are ongoing and senior US officials will travel to Dublin in the coming days to agree the final details. The programme will include a meeting with President McAleese in Áras an Uactharáin and a bilateral meeting with myself. It is also expected that President Obama will pay a visit to Moneygall and that he will make a public address at an event in Dublin city.

The public address in Dublin will be part of a major entertainment event. The programme and the venue have yet to be confirmed. Entrance will be free of charge with tickets available to the general public and it will be designed as a welcome to the President and the First Lady of the US.

Organising an event on this scale will involve working closely with many public agencies as well as businesses and citizens. I appreciate that people will experience some disruption as a consequence and I want to thank everyone who will be affected both for their patience and their forbearance. This is an historic opportunity to put our capital and our people on view to a potentially huge audience around the world.

The full details of the overall programme will be finalised and announced as soon as they are available.

I expect that I will discuss a range of issues with President Obama during the course of his visit and I will emphasise how much the Irish people value our relationship and the enduring friendship with the United States. It is likely that our discussions will also cover the global economic situation and Ireland's determination to overcome the difficulties that we face. I will be stressing that we are open for business and will emphasise the many advantages to doing business here in Ireland.

The President's visit comes just after the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth. It is anticipated that up to 1,000 international media representatives will cover both visits. Taken together these visits will highlight Ireland and its people and will instil confidence and hope in a brighter future.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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That is not an answer of any great detail. Given that the visit is imminent, I would have expected a little more in the Taoiseach's reply. Does the Taoiseach intend to give the House the full schedule of events when he receives them?

While he dealt a little bit with the content of some of the discussions he intends to have with the US President, Mr. Obama, he was somewhat silent on several other issues. Will he enlighten us as to whether he intends to ask if it is the US President's intention to implement initiatives for undocumented immigrants in the United States, many of whom are Irish? Does the Taoiseach intend to fight their corner?

In light of the assassination of Osama bin Laden in the past week, will the Taoiseach raise the issue of the incursion of the United States into Pakistan? Will the Taoiseach ask the president if it is US policy to act as judge, juror and executioner of those accused of such crimes or whether it would be better off to leave these matters come to trial?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I cannot give Deputy Clare Daly any more details of the plans around Mr. Obama's visit to Ireland because I do not have them. When the American President pays a visit to any country, members of his Administration travel there beforehand to discuss with the authorities the actual detail of where the President, and in the case of this visit to Ireland the First Lady, will travel.

The event to be held in Dublin city centre has not yet been agreed because the US personnel involved must look at the sites in question and give their views on the range and extent of the numbers which might turn up. Accordingly, I cannot give the Deputy the finalised detail because it has not yet been agreed.

I raised the matter of the undocumented Irish with the President and his Administration in the White House on St. Patrick's Day. As Deputy Clare Daly is aware, politics in Washington has changed with the Democratic Party in control of the US Senate while the Republican Party now has control of the House of Representatives. Accordingly, the much sought after comprehensive legislation to deal with immigration in the US will not happen in the short term.

Arising from recent events, however, a package of enforcement measures concerning homeland security in the US may have to be brought forward soon. If that were the case, the process will begin in Congress which will make a swathe through it.

The appropriate time to make an amendment to that would be some time during that process and the appropriate amendment would be, in Ireland's case, to seek access to the E3 visa system, which is a renewable visa system. This would provide some relief and release of pressure in respect of undocumented Irish people. Senator Schumer from New York will be the author of whatever documentation goes through that process.

When in New York last week, I met with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, which is well aware of the process by which legislation and amendments in that regard go through Congress and the Senate. In that regard, Senator Schumer is in a powerful position. He has much contact with the Irish community and as such is well aware of the extent of the problem. Given the scale of this problem in the United States, of which the Deputy is aware, the legislators are encountering difficulties in terms of putting through Bills that would give legislative effect to comprehensive reform. I met a number of undocumented Irish people, some of whom have been in the United States since before 9/11 and have a degree of difficulty. They are members of the community who pay their social security and taxes and who, in most cases, have families and businesses they look after but they are undocumented, a position not dissimilar to that of many other nationalities. Those experiencing problems range from people who recently went to the United States and have over-stayed their welcome to those who have been there for much longer periods and are also having difficulties. In that regard, the Deputy can take it the Government is focused on this issue and that on each occasion a Minister or Minister of State goes to the United States he or she will seek to build up relationships on behalf of the Government and, therefore, the people of Ireland with Democratic and Republican personnel. Whatever change has to be made will have to go through Congress and the Senate and this will require connections and discussions on a regular basis.

As regards the other global matters raised by the Deputy, while the issue is not down for specific debate the question of global terrorism has affected us here, either through direct deaths resulting from 9/11 or the consequences and impact of global terrorist activities in other parts of the world.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the details-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are four other Members who wish to ask questions. I will come back to the Deputy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They will be published as soon as we know them.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It has been reported - the Government has not contradicted this - that the combined cost of the visits of President Obama and the Queen may run to approximately €25 million. We still cannot get a straight answer as to whether this is the case. Given those reports and the growing number of experts and commentators internationally and domestically who are saying that our economy is ruined, the constant protestations of Ministers that they have no money for anything because we are in the straitjacket of the IMF and that the much vaunted jobs budget, now a jobs initiative which will be fiscally neutral, is looking certain to be a damp squib to beat all damp squibs because we are not allowed-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must ask a question about the President's visit.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The question is coming, a Cheann Comhairle.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is not the only damp squib.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Given that we are not allowed to put any serious money into the economy to create jobs, would it not be better to spend that €25 million on the creation of jobs, the construction of a couple of new schools or a hospital or, perhaps, to reverse some of the cuts to special needs which are affecting the most vulnerable in our country?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must stick to the question.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is a question. Would it not be better to save this money-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Not the question the Deputy should be asking.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is a question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question is what issues the Taoiseach plans to discuss with President Obama.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Would it not be better to save the millions being spent on these visits and spend it on things that would put people to work and provide-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We do not want a speech at Question Time. Please ask a question.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is very clearly a question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What question, exactly?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I said, "Would it not be better to spend the money on something more useful-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a question.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I do not know why you are interrupting me, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Because your question is about President Obama's visit.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Would it not be better to spend the money that will be spent on President Obama's visit on something that would provide jobs, help the vulnerable or build a couple of schools or a hospital?

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Or buy Deputy Boyd Barrett a jacket.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Could the issues the Taoiseach said he would discuss with President Obama not be better discussed in a telephone call, which would be cheaper?

If the Taoiseach insists on going ahead with this visit, will he ask President Obama if he thinks it appropriate that his Treasury Secretary, Mr. Tim Geithner, interfered with the negotiations over the debt burden of this country and vetoed plans to burn bondholders? Will the Taoiseach raise that issue with President Obama?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Boyd Barrett, please resume your seat and allow the Taoiseach to answer the question, that is, the question you placed on the Order Paper.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Deputies on the other side do not want to hear these questions because they are embarrassing.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I cannot recall anyone who is as disillusioning as Deputy Boyd Barrett, whatever he says. There are bright days in Ireland and good things happen in our country. I have never heard him mention the valuable works done by communities, even in his own constituency.

He wants a straight answer to a straight question.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I want some money for those communities.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He put out a figure that is not real.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What is the figure?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I could ask Deputy Boyd Barrett if he can tell the House what he will spend on the next general election campaign, and he would not be able to answer me.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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â'¬15,000.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Protests in which Deputy Boyd Barrett has been involved, which are perfectly legitimate, have accrued costs which might have gone towards providing computers in some of the schools he mentioned.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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All funded by donations on the day.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Be that as it may, this is an opportunity for real investment. Voted money goes through the Cabinet each year for particular Departments, including the Department of Justice and Law Reform. It is entirely appropriate and normal when visitors with the global reach of Queen Elizabeth and the President of the United States come here that they would be properly protected. In this case, with two global personalities visiting within a short space of time, we have a brilliant opportunity to present our country and its people in the very best light, internationally. This will reap enormous returns in tourism spin-off. People in Deputy Boyd Barrett's constituency and throughout the country will benefit from overseas visitors coming here as a consequence of the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach for a comprehensive reply, given the constraints under which he is working regarding the visit of the President of the United States. Would the Taoiseach agree that this is a most important and welcome visit to Ireland? We have outstanding historical relationships with the United States on the level of family and kinship, of economics and of humanitarian assistance to Africa and other parts of the world. For example, we have a joint programme with the department of the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to improve early childhood nutrition in Africa. We have a broad range of engagement with the United States.

Would the Taoiseach agree that President Obama has proven himself to be-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Is this a question or a statement?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not realise Deputy Boyd Barrett had aspirations to be the Ceann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Boyd Barrett, you will take a walk in a minute if you are not very careful.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would the Taoiseach agree that President Obama has been a very thoughtful and strategic leader, who has given a new status to the concept of multilateralism in the conduct of international relations that is in sharp contrast to previous United States policies? Would he agree that the visit is not just about the issues to which I have alluded? Does he agree that we should not forget that in addition to the thousands of jobs Irish people create in the United States and that United States companies create in Ireland, the United States is a very important market, which is repeatedly in the top three in terms of US citizens buying goods and services that are manufactured by Irish manufacturers as well as services produced by Irish people? In that economic context, I ask the Taoiseach to ensure, if he can, that the US-Ireland research programme which is substantial and an area to which President Obama gives high priority in his own economic renewal programme, gets due recognition during this visit, and that some facilitation of this could be organised around the visit.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Martin for his comments. I agree this is a very important visit in its own right and it gives Ireland the opportunity to present itself as being a traditional friend of the United States, with many links through social, cultural, political and business activities. For example, I hope to have the opportunity to open the €300 million extension to the Coca Cola plant in Wexford before too long, Intel is spending €500 million on an expansion of its plant at Leixlip and there was the announcement yesterday of the joining of Elan and Alkermes in respect of the siting of the new Alkermes headquarters in Athlone.

I met quite a number of business and investment interests in New York last week and was enthused by their dedication and commitment to this country. Some results will come from that in the time ahead. This is a critical market for Ireland and the extent of trade, as the Deputy is aware, that crosses the Atlantic either way between Europe and the United States, including between Ireland and the United States, is very extensive.

I will ensure that there is appropriate reference to the US-Ireland research programme. I am aware of its activities over the years and know it played an important part in keeping Ireland up there in terms of awareness when times were not so good. It is an important element of the professional connection between our two countries.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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With regard to the undocumented Irish, I appreciate the work the Taoiseach has done. I know he raised this issue during the St. Patrick's day visit, as I did, and I point out that this visit gives a particular opportunity to raise the issue once again.

Nuair a bhí an Taoiseach sa Teach Bán, bhí an tUachtarán Obama ag caint faoi fear gorm as na Stáit Aontaithe darbh ainm Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave, a freedom fighter and a human rights activist in the USA. During the St. Patrick's day visit event for the Taoiseach hosted by President Obama, the President spoke about Frederick Douglass, who came to Ireland in 1845 and was described as the black O'Connell of America. There are plans to unveil a statue to this activist in Cork and there is a request that President Obama would perform that ceremony. Given the Taoiseach said the final details have not been agreed, will he tell us whether this is part of the consideration?

One of the reasons this man came into such public consciousness was not just because of his life's work but because he published a book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which the Taoiseach may be interested to know will be republished and launched this Thursday in Glasnevin Cemetery museum.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As I understand it, President Obama will not visit Cork on this occasion. I am aware of his interest in Frederick Douglass and of Mr. Douglass's life and times. I had the opportunity when I was at the White House to present to President Obama a book in respect of Daniel O'Connell detailing references to Frederick Douglass. In fact, President Obama referred to people from Ireland who had received Congressional medals of honour for various deeds of valour, including one John King from Ballinrobe, a bust of whom was unveiled by Senator Chris Dodd last year.

With regard to the life and times of Frederick Douglass, I made the point to White House staff and to President Obama that the waters that divide us as countries were those that brought the Africans to the United States for slavery purposes and the Irish to that country for freedom. On St. Patrick's Day, remembering St. Patrick, too, was a slave, President Obama showed he fully understood the history his own people endured. He might have liked to have been able to go to University College Cork on this occasion but his schedule does not permit it. One hopes in the years ahead there will be other opportunities for the President to return to Ireland.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That concludes Questions to the Taoiseach.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On a point of order-----

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Concerning pension subsidies-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That concludes Questions to the Taoiseach.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Some of us have had our hands up for about 15 minutes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is your point of order?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I wish to ask about the difference in standards applied-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a point of order.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is a point of order.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are not entitled to question the Chair. Will you please resume your seat?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On what basis-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please resume your seat.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are questioning the Chair.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I want an explanation as to-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You will not get any explanation from me.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----how a question submitted on the Order Paper can be-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I reiterate you will not get any explanation. Please resume your seat or I will ask you to leave the Chamber.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is an abuse of your core position.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I beg your pardon. You had better withdraw that remark or else leave the Chamber.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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No.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Leave the Chamber, Deputy, please.

Deputies:

He is only looking for publicity.

Deputies:

He is looking for attention.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Ceann Comhairle never has anything constructive to say.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Take 100 lines as well.