Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an outline of what he and An Taoiseach discussed with American President Barack Obama during their meeting at the White House on March 19. [15524/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach and I discussed a number of issues with President Obama during our meeting on 19 March, including the economic situation in Ireland, the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Northern Ireland, the prospects for immigration reform in the US and the situation in Syria.

We briefed the President on developments in relation to the Irish economy and gave an update of recent developments in the Eurozone. Both sides agreed on the mutual benefits which would arise from the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and on the desirability of launching negotiations before the end of the Irish EU Presidency in June 2013. In relation to Northern Ireland, we provided the President with our assessment of the current situation and expressed appreciation for the ongoing support and engagement of the US in Northern Ireland affairs. On the prospects for immigration reform, the President expressed optimism that progress would be made. In relation to international issues, Syria was discussed, with the Taoiseach briefing the President on discussions on the issue at the previous week’s European Council.