Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his visit to the United States of America, including meetings and engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I travelled to the United States from 5 - 7 February, for a series of engagements in New York and Washington, D.C.

In New York, I met with representatives of a number of UN Member States for wide-ranging discussions, including on Ireland’s candidature for a seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2021 – 2022.

In Washington DC, I attended a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, of which Ireland is a member. This was a good opportunity to meet with representatives of some of the 70 approx. countries in attendance, and to sit down with US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, for discussions over lunch.

Engaging with Secretary Pompeo, my meetings with the Congressional Friends of Ireland, as well as other meetings with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, were valuable opportunities to discuss priority issues, in particular in relation to Northern Ireland, Brexit, immigration, our economic relationship and foreign policy issues.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet with US Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, to discuss Middle East issues.

The centrepiece of the visit was a large event on Capitol Hill, with the Congressional Friends of Ireland, to mark the centenary of the First Dáil at the opening of the 116th Congress. I thanked the Friends of Ireland for their unwavering commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland - a commitment which is as vital as ever.

I was also delighted to launch at this event the Government’s new Strategy for the US and Canada, under the Global Ireland Initiative. This Strategy will see Ireland doubling its impact in both the US and Canada, through investment and engagement; deepening, broadening and securing these hugely important relationships at every level for the future.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his lunch meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo; the issues that were discussed; the responses that were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of my recent visit to the US, I attended a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat-ISIS on Wednesday 6 February in Washington DC. The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and we had the opportunity for a useful and wide-ranging discussion over lunch.

As with all of my meetings with the US Administration and Congressional leaders, Northern Ireland was a central focus; specifically, the importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement in the current Brexit context, and supporting peace and reconciliation. Secretary Pompeo acknowledged the importance of this task, and the important role successive US Administrations have played in supporting the peace process.

I outlined the Government's ambitions for the US-Ireland relationship, as set out in our new US and Canada Strategy, which includes protecting and growing our strong, reciprocal economic relationship; and ensuring our people can work and live more easily in both the US and Ireland.

Our discussion also covered some of the issues which arose in the course of the Ministerial meeting; Ireland's contribution to the aims of the Global Coalition; as well as a number of long-standing and emerging foreign policy priorities for both the Government and the US Administration.