Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the impact the election of US President-elect, Donald Trump, will have on American-Irish relations and in particular, regarding Northern Ireland. [34865/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that the long-standing and warm relationship between Ireland and the US continues and develops. Successive US Administrations – both Democrat and Republican - have provided vital support to the peace process, including through the appointment of a US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. I am confident that the incoming US Administration will continue to engage with and support the peace process, and to sustain and build on the success that has been achieved with the support of the United States over the last three decades and more.

The Taoiseach spoke with the President-Elect during the night of Wednesday, November 9th. The President-Elect extended an invitation to the Taoiseach to visit the White House this coming St. Patrick’s Day, as is customary.

Despite the limited duration of the call, the Taoiseach was able to raise issues of Irish interest. The Taoiseach also spoke by phone with Vice-President Elect Pence on 18 November and, during that conversation, the latter indicated a strong awareness of matters that concern Ireland and Irish-America.

The incoming Administration, which will take office on 20 January, is still in the process of considering and announcing its nominations to senior offices, including in the area of foreign policy. During this transition period, the Government will avail of all opportunities to engage with the incoming Administration and sensitise them to our issues and concerns – not least the shared commitment of successive Irish and US governments to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

In the meantime, the Government will continue to work with the current US Administration which has made a sustained commitment to the peace process over the last eight years. In this regard, we owe a particular debt of gratitude to President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry for their appointment of Senator Gary Hart who has made a very positive contribution to political progress in Northern Ireland over the last two years.