Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of his recent meeting with the US Vice President and the Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37739/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I recently visited New York, Washington D.C. and Boston over the period from 23 September to 1 October. While there I had a wide range of meetings covering UN issues as well as bilateral US-Ireland relations and Irish community matters. While our paths had crossed at the UN in New York, I met bilaterally with both Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry during my visit to Washington D.C. I also participated at the swearing-in ceremony for the incoming U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, presided over by Vice-President Biden.

While several issues were touched upon, the main focus of the discussion that I had with Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry in Washington D.C. was on Northern Ireland. Given the developments on all party talks involving both governments in Dublin and London, I saw these meetings as an important and timely opportunity to engage with the U.S. Administration and with Irish-American supporters of the Northern Ireland peace process. I stressed that active U.S. support remains critical to sustaining peace and political stability in Northern Ireland.

I was happy to hear at first hand that the U.S. Administration is committed to active engagement over the period ahead. Throughout the Peace Process, the unwavering support of successive U.S. Administrations has been critically important, as it will be again in addressing the current challenges.

In my meeting with Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry, I also conveyed the best wishes of the Government and people of Ireland to Ambassador O’Malley as he takes up his important position. The new Ambassador’s arrival in Ireland is all the more significant as the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Ireland-U.S. diplomatic relations occurs today, October 7.

While in Washington, I also had the opportunity to meet with the White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. In addition to Northern Ireland, I also raised with him the question of the undocumented Irish community in the U.S. I urged that President Obama would include their situation in the administrative action he is committed to taking before the end of the year.