Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on his meeting with members of the Administration of the United States of America. [53410/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I travelled to the United States on Monday 10 December for a programme of high level meetings in Washington DC. The main objective of the visit was to engage at the highest levels of the US Administration, as well as with senior members of Congress, on vital issues for Ireland, such as, the strong economic links between Ireland and the US, transatlantic relations, international trade, and a global approach to taxation.

During my visit I met with Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Kevin Hassett, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mick Mulvaney, and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, Clete Willems. I also met with Manisha Singh, Acting Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the State Department.

In all of my meetings with the US administration I discussed the strong bilateral economic and trade relationship between Ireland and the US, the jobs US investment supports in Ireland, and Irish investment supports in the United States. In my meeting with Secretary Mnuchin I highlighted the importance the Government attaches to finding a solution to the issues faced by Aughinish Alumina.

We also discussed the global economic situation, EU-US relations, and the importance of pursuing global solutions in relation to taxation. The United States is an important partner for Ireland, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Secretary Mnuchin and his colleagues on these and other issues.

While in Washington I also met with the Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, and the CEO of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva.