Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has made contact with the President-elect of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump; if he will report on any concerns he may have regarding his foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36323/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach spoke with the President-Elect during the night of Wednesday, November 9th. The President-Elect extended an invitation to both 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, including Immigration Reform. The Taoiseach also had an encouraging telephone conversation with Vice-President Elect Pence on 19 November where the plight of undocumented Irish citizens in the US was also raised and discussed.

I look forward to having an opportunity to having substantive discussions with the incoming Administration on common areas of interest between Ireland and the United States. These would include economic ties, on-going developments in the Peace Process, Immigration Reform and a range of international issues of mutual interest and concern.

The new Administration in the US assumes office on 20 January, 2017 and nominations to senior posts, including in the area of foreign policy, are still in the process of being considered and announced. During the course of the transition period, the Government will avail of all opportunities for contacts with members of the incoming Administration to sensitise them to our interests and concerns.

We will also continue to maintain close and constructive co-operation with the Administration of President Obama, with whom we have worked constructively over his two terms in office.