Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the issues which Irish representatives will raise with the US President on his EU tour in February 2005. [2843/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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President Bush will meet the European Council during his visit to Brussels on 22 February 2005. Discussions are ongoing about the agenda for the meeting. I welcome the visit as reflecting a desire on the part of the United States and the EU to continue to strengthen the transatlantic relationship. Ireland and its EU partners favour a focused and practical discussion on a number of key issues at the meeting. The Middle East peace process is likely to be included on the agenda. Enhanced US engagement on that issue is critically important. We would like to engage with the US on the crucial debate this year about strengthening the United Nations system. The need for effective multilateralism is particularly relevant in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, as well as in respect of global problems such as the spread of HIV-AIDS. The US will want to address the situation in Iraq, for example in the context of this week's elections. There will be other opportunities in the months ahead to continue our discussions with the US on a range of issues, bilaterally and in the EU context, particularly at the next regular EU-US summit meeting.