Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ministerial Meetings

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has contacted the President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump; his views on the policies of his administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3053/17]

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

The Taoiseach had a phone call with then President-Elect Trump on the day following his election. The Taoiseach was able to raise issues of Irish interest, and President Trump extended an invitation to the Taoiseach to visit the White House on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 2017. A similar call was also made by the Taoiseach to then Vice President-Elect Pence. A new Administration in the White House is accompanied by a large number of new appointments at the highest levels of the US Federal Government and institutions. This means there can be a significant period of change – both in terms of policy and personnel - while the shape of the new Administration emerges. Our Ambassador and her team in Washington have been very active in establishing working relationships with the incoming Administration, monitoring the various confirmation hearings in the US Senate and reporting on the preliminary indications of the new Administration’s policy agenda, especially on those aspects which directly impact on our bilateral relationship with the US.

I am due to travel to Washington, D.C., at the end of January and expect to have an opportunity to meet with figures in both the Administration and Congress and review with them matters of particular interest to Ireland. These would include recent developments in the Northern Ireland Peace Process – which has been supported by successive US administrations – as well as immigration reform, the unique challenges posed for Ireland by Brexit, and strengthening economic engagement between our two countries.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.