Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14689/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I visited New York and Washington over the period from 15 to 18 March.

On St. Patrick's Day I accompanied the Taoiseach at his meeting with President Obama at the White House, and at other engagements. The meeting offered an invaluable opportunity for a broad exchange of views with the President and his team at the start of the new Administration. The discussions with President Obama covered a wide range of priority issues for Ireland and the United States.

As has been widely noted, President Obama was most generous with his time and hospitality during the visit, hosting the traditional Shamrock Ceremony and bilateral meeting at the White House. He also attended the Speaker's Luncheon on Capitol Hill, as did Vice President Biden. In the evening, President and Mrs. Obama hosted an evening reception at the White House which was also attended by Vice-President and Mrs. Biden.

On 16 March, I had a very useful meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We discussed a broad range of foreign policy issues, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, Cuba, developments in the European Union and immigration reform. We also discussed the scope for cooperation on development issues and in the area of conflict resolution.

As will be appreciated, the Secretary of State, given her close familiarity with the issue, was particularly interested in having an assessment of the situation in Northern Ireland, including in light of the murders of the two British soldiers and the PSNI officer the preceding week. I assured her of the steadfast determination of both Governments, and of the political parties in Northern Ireland, to ensure that the peace and stability already achieved would not be compromised by the cowardly acts of an unrepresentative few. Both the President and Secretary of State, and our many friends from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, made clear that the United States would remain a stalwart friend of the process. I also had the opportunity in Washington to meet with the First Minister and deputy First Minister when I attended an event hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau.

In New York I participated in the trade mission organised by Enterprise Ireland as part of the St. Patrick's Day programme, and met with a number of companies announcing significant investments in Ireland. I took the opportunity to raise the issues of the immigration reform and the undocumented with Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and had a meeting with representatives of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR). In New York I participated in the trade mission organised by Enterprise Ireland as part of the St. Patrick's Day programme, and met with a number of companies announcing significant investments in Ireland. I took the opportunity to raise the issues of the immigration reform and the undocumented with Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and had a meeting with representatives of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR). While in Washington, I called on Congresswoman Zoë Lofgren, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration.

Also in Washington, I met joined the Taoiseach in meetings with Senators Dodd and Leahy, and with Congressman Richie Neal and other members of the Friends of Ireland group.

While in New York, I participated in the launch, by the Taoiseach, of the Ireland-US Strategic Review. My Department is at present working to advance the key recommendations contained in that Review.