Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he, or his officials, have had with the new administration in the USA regarding the recovery and reinvestment plan and the impact it might have on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5313/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave earlier in response to the Priority PQ on this subject, which is set out below.

Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations. Successive Presidents and their Administrations, and Ireland's many friends on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle, have made an enormous contribution to bringing peace and economic prosperity to this island. The Government attaches the highest importance to strengthening the unique relationship between the two countries.

I welcome the commitment of the Obama Administration to overcoming the manifold challenges posed by the current economic climate worldwide. President Obama has made it clear that the recovery and re-investment plan is his top priority. The legislation, as currently developing, is focused on stimulating the domestic U.S. economy, an undertaking which is central in restoring wider confidence with global implications, and as such of particular significance for an open trading economy such as Ireland.

The legislation is currently before the U.S. Congress, with the Senate and House versions due shortly to be brought to convergence. The Government will continue to follow its progress and assess its possible implications for this country. The aim is to promote the consolidation and growth of the economic partnership between the United States and Ireland.

This partnership has been enormously valuable in the development of the very significant trade and investment ties between our two countries. It is worth noting that the US was Ireland's second largest merchandise trade partner in 2007 with bilateral trade valued at $31.5billion. Trade in services between Ireland and the US was worth US36.9 billion in 2006. These ties are mutually beneficial: just as US companies employ 95,000 people in Ireland, Irish companies in the US now employ over 80,000 people across the United States. A strong US economy serves all our interests. The need constantly to update and renew these links will be a central theme of our contacts with members of the Administration and other key figures in the United States in the period ahead.