Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will outline his discussions with the US President Barack Obama during his recent visit here. [12830/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of American support for Ireland's efforts to lower the interest rate on the EU/IMF programme of support during his meeting with US President Barack Obama; and if not, the reason therefor. [13627/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of Ireland's corporation tax with US President Barack Obama during his recent meeting with him; and if not, the reason therefor. [13628/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach if he will give details of the discussions he had with US President Barack Obama on the Middle East during his recent visit. [13630/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions he had on Northern Ireland with US President Barack Obama during his recent visit. [13631/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach if he will outline the response of US President Barack Obama's response to his proposed diaspora finders fee scheme announced as part of the jobs initiative. [13634/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, together.

The visit to this country by the US President, Barack Obama, and the First Lady, Michelle Obama, was a very tangible expression of the warmth and strength of the relationship between our two countries. It was also a great opportunity to show a positive image of Ireland to the world, building on the images from the historic visit by Queen Elizabeth the previous week.

During the course of my bilateral meeting with the US President, we had a broad discussion covering a range of issues. We discussed the global economic situation and I briefed him on our strategy for overcoming our economic difficulties and the range of important decisions and initiatives taken by the Government since we took office. I informed him of the priority that we are giving to job creation through the jobs initiative, as well as the actions we have taken on the banking system and the initiation of a comprehensive review of expenditure as a central plank in the strategy to reduce the budget deficit.

We discussed the progress made so far in our discussions at EU level and with the IMF-EU-ECB troika. I shared my analysis of that with President Obama, as I did with Prime Minister Cameron when I met him. While acknowledging that these were primarily matters for discussion in an EU context, I used the opportunity to ensure that the US Administration was clear on our objectives in trying to improve on the current programme and our determination to take the necessary action at home to deal with our problems.

We reflected in our discussions on the common aspects of the economic challenges we face, notwithstanding the huge difference in size between our two economies. We discussed trade and investment between our countries, including the importance of foreign direct investment by American investors in Ireland and the fact that 80,000 Americans across 50 states work in Irish-owned companies. I assured the President that US investment is most valuable to Ireland's economic recovery and emphasised that Ireland is also creating employment in the US. I repeated that we will retain our 12.5% rate of corporation tax. The President updated me on progress with the reform of the US corporation tax system and we agreed that our officials would stay in touch on the matter.

We discussed developments with regard to Northern Ireland, including the Assembly elections, the very strong community reaction to the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr and the Government's intention to further develop all-island co-operation, including in discussions at the North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting on 10 June. I expressed my appreciation to the President for the long-standing and continued engagement by the US in the peace process.

I raised the prospects for immigration reform in the United States, following the President's recent speech on the matter. He updated me on progress to date, on what remains a very difficult domestic political issue in the US. We also discussed a range of international issues, including developments in the Middle East and Afghanisation and our joint initiative on food security and the fight against hunger.

We did not have any specific discussions about the Government's new initiative to engage the Irish diaspora in efforts to create jobs in Ireland.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have a group of six questions.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We have only five minutes remaining.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know. Sin é. The visit was welcome and successful. I was delighted with it. I am sure the Taoiseach will acknowledge the work undertaken by his predecessor, Brian Cowen, in conjunction with ambassadors Rooney and Collins in working to get President Obama to agree to visit our country.

On the economic issues to which the Taoiseach alluded in his reply, which I raised in my questions, in the aftermath he indicated that the meetings with the President were detailed and substantive. Given the prominence of claims concerning the attitude of the Administration in the United States towards bank bondholder debt, could the Taoiseach indicate that he raised that specific issue with the President? Could he tell us what was said in that regard and what the President's reply was in terms of their approach to bondholder debt? Equally, given the clear threat to this country of new rules on taxing overseas income, in particular of US multinational companies abroad, could the Taoiseach indicate the outcome of that discussion and whether the issue was specifically raised?

Last week the Taoiseach indicated that he did not raise the interest rate with Prime Minister Cameron. Did he specifically raise the issue of better, sustainable loan terms and a reduction in the interest rate with President Obama? That is an important issue to us.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The President's message to this country was, "We want you to succeed". As I outlined, we covered a range of issues to which Deputy Martin referred. I briefed him on the decisions taken by the Government in respect of the banks, the jobs initiative and the work that will continue following the comprehensive spending review as we prepare for the budget. I also explained to him about our relations with our European colleagues and about the devolution of authority to the Finance Ministers in respect of an interest rate reduction in this country's bailout deal. I expressed to him the enthusiasm and great support I detected in the United States, both in Washington and in New York, among Irish-American business and other potential investors in this country and I elaborated on that.

The President said that the United States is quite a distance from the evolution of a tax package. That arose in respect of the corporate tax rate which we retain. Tax laws in the United States are both complex and voluminous. The President indicated that they were at the start of a very long process in the US but that there should be continuous contact between officials in this country and his Administration about developments. I gratefully accepted his offer.

The President also said in respect of immigration, which I know is of interest to Deputy Martin, that while the perception was that this might be a Hispanic problem only, there are other nationalities who had an interest in the matter being sorted out as well.

We covered all of the issues, from the comprehensive spending review to our intention of getting the deficit below 3% by 2015, rebuilding trust with our European colleagues, ambassadors, politicians and others. The discussion lasted approximately 45 minutes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The bank bondholder debt is a fundamental issue. Did the Taoiseach specifically raise that with the President, particularly given the commentary around the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Geithner, and his alleged intervention at the G8, in terms of clarifying - if that is the case - that there was to be no burning of bondholders or no substantive restructuring? This is important in terms of any potential pan-European restructuring of debt that could be agreed eventually at that level, which is something that must happen. We need a pan-European approach to be taken more quickly than is happening. I am surprised the Taoiseach did not ask President Obama what the US perspective on the issue of bondholder debt was. Does it have a position on it? The US would have influence in terms of the IMF, which is a key partner with the institutions in terms of the deal with Ireland. Did the Taoiseach raise the issue with the President?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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As the Taoiseach is aware, I took the opportunity, in his presence, to raise with President Obama the plight of the undocumented Irish and the search for peace in the Middle East. All of the Palestinian groups in the Middle East, including Hamas and Fatah, have come together and signed a reconciliation pact. Does the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, welcome that? The Taoiseach will also be aware that George Mitchell stood down from his post there. Will he join with me in thanking him for his efforts? We all know the work he did for our peace process. He put in significant work in the Middle East and I met him there several times. We should thank him and wish him, his wife and his children well for the future.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am sure the Taoiseach will agree with me that €20 billion relief for the Irish taxpayer, in terms of senior unguaranteed bank debt, would be a huge relief for our people and would provide money for a real job stimulus. Did the Taoiseach ask President Obama about the allegation around that matter? If not, will he ask the US Government whether the allegation is true? It is a serious allegation.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I commend George Mitchell for the work he did in this country. He was an outstanding person and was appointed by former President Clinton to come here. He spent six months in Northern Ireland and had little opportunity to play his part at the beginning, but his influence, personality and patience won through in the end. He is a person of the highest standards for whom I have absolute regard. I wish him, his wife and his young family success and good health in the years ahead. He made a remarkable contribution to the peace process here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude in respect of his behaviour, which as a negotiator in very difficult circumstances was outstanding.

I briefed President Obama on our decisions in respect of the banking structure, the governance of the banks and our relations with the troika. In that context, I would have indicated to him our decision in respect of subordinated bondholders and how that had evolved in Europe from a point when that was not going happen to now where it is an accepted part of dealing with the particular problem.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That was happening already.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Finance may well have to go to court shortly in pursuance of this matter and I referred to that in my conversation with the President. The assertion in the Kelly argument with regard to Mr. Geithner was an assertion arising from a meeting that took place in Asia last November. The matter was not on the agenda for the G7, but I understand it came up in some side conversations and I have no evidence of what was actually discussed. When I met Mr. Geithner in Washington, we talked about the Irish situation, in which he was very interested, and he attended the meeting the following day in the Oval Office with the President. He retains a strong interest in seeing that Ireland meets its challenges and gets out of these difficulties. His President committed himself to supporting Ireland in whatever way he can and I am very grateful for that.