Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach if he has had contact with the President of the United States of America. [29969/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I spoke with President Trump by phone yesterday afternoon. It was a short congratulatory call, similar to a number of calls I have had over recent days.

The President and I spoke about Brexit and its impact on Ireland as well as the Peace Process and efforts to reinstate power sharing in Northern Ireland. I acknowledged the importance of continued close interest and support from the US administration.

The president reiterated the invitation to me to attend the traditional functions in Washington for St. Patrick's Day and I look forward to attending these next March.

During our brief conversation I raised a number of issues including Ireland-US trade relations, the situation of the up to 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US and Climate Change, and I look forward to having an opportunity to discuss these issues with him in more detail in due course.

As I said in the house yesterday, I want to see our relations with the United States continue to develop based on the long-standing friendship that exists between our two countries. As Taoiseach, I am committed to working productively with the US Administration in the cause of international peace and security, to promote Ireland's interests in the United States and to further strengthen the economic, trade and investment links between Ireland and the US to the mutual benefit of both countries. At the same time I will ensure that I promote the values of this country and the European values that this Government stands for as well.