Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to meet the new US Secretary of State to discuss her vision for the world; the diplomatic contacts with the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5131/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to meeting the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, in Brussels on 22 February 2005 when she meets with EU Foreign Ministers during the visit of President Bush. I also look forward to meeting the Secretary of State over the St. Patrick's Day period in Washington.

In recent days Dr. Rice has visited a number of our EU partners and the Middle East. I welcome the positive remarks she has made about the EU and the priority she has given to progressing the Middle East peace process.

During my visit to the United States last week, I had meetings with a wide range of senior figures in Congress and also with members of the Administration, including Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Andrew Natsios, Administrator of USAID and Dr. Mitchell Reiss, the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. These meetings provided an opportunity to update our contacts on a range of issues of mutual interest including recent developments in the peace process, immigration and the tsunami relief effort.