Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Official Engagements

11:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his itinerary during his recent trip to America, including details of all the people and groups he met and the topics of discussion at each meeting or event. [11712/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I travelled to the United States from 11 to 17 March to represent the Government at promotional events in Dallas before attending the customary St. Patrick's Day ceremonies in Washington. On 17 March, I accompanied the Taoiseach to the White House for the traditional presentation of shamrock, followed by a meeting with President Bush in the Oval Office. Our discussions with the President covered Northern Ireland, immigration reform and other, including current international, issues. The Taoiseach and I also had a series of valuable meetings with key members of Congress, including Senators Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kennedy, Leahy and McCain. We also met with Congressman Jim Walsh and members of the Friends of Ireland Group in Congress. The focus of these meetings was Northern Ireland and immigration reform. This special opportunity, unique to Ireland, for direct and detailed dialogue with the President of the United States and his Administration, and also key players on Capitol Hill, is exceptionally valued by the Government.

My programme in Washington also included attendance at the American-Ireland Fund national gala dinner, the lunch hosted by Speaker Hastert, and the ambassador's St. Patrick's Day reception. In addition, the Taoiseach and I had a very valuable meeting on immigration reform with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. I also accompanied the Taoiseach to a meeting with the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board. Discussions with the board focused on the successes of the Irish economy, business prospects in the US and developments in Northern Ireland.

In Dallas, my programme included attendance at the Irish-American Society dinner, the downtown parade and a breakfast hosted by the American-Ireland Fund. I also had a briefing session with the editorial board of the Dallas Morning News, and addressed a lunch hosted by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. My address to the business lunch focused on the success of the Irish economy, highlighting the theme of the Irish advantage, which was also articulated by the Taoiseach and Ministers at a wide variety of events throughout the world over the St. Patrick's Day period. The importance of the Irish-American relationship, the peace process and immigration reform also featured in my remarks and discussions in Dallas.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions which took place during his recent trip to America with regard to the undocumented Irish people living there; if he met with the lobby group ILIR; and if so, the outcome of that meeting. [11713/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government attaches the highest priority to the status of the undocumented Irish in the United Sates, and takes every opportunity in contacts with US political leaders to emphasise the importance of addressing the matter in a constructive and sympathetic manner.

The Taoiseach and I availed fully of the valuable opportunity of our St. Patrick's Day discussions to convey our concern in this matter directly to President Bush, to his Administration and to key Congressional figures, including Senators Kennedy and McCain.

The President was appreciative of our concerns and again reiterated his support for a broad approach, involving reform as well as enforcement, an approach which he again underlined in speeches later in the month. The Taoiseach and I expressed appreciation for his understanding and emphasised our strong support for the resolution sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain.

The Taoiseach and I also had a valuable meeting with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR. I warmly commend the work of the ILIR organisation which has had a significant impact on the debate in Washington, and elsewhere in the US, and whose work I have been very pleased to support financially. We discussed the ILIR campaign and recent initiatives by the organisation, such as the very successful day of action in Washington on the 8 March. We agreed to remain in close contact, including on reviewing our tactics and approach, as the legislative process in Washington moves forward.

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