Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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100. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the upcoming US presidential elections and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement during his visit to Washington, DC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28444/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My visit to Washington D.C. last week came at important time for both the United States and Ireland, and offered a valuable opportunity to discuss key priorities, including Brexit, Northern Ireland and our upcoming tenure on the UN Security Council.

Having met with members of the U.S. Administration, Congress and friends of Ireland from across the political spectrum, the visit naturally gave me a first-hand sense of the issues that are dominating the election campaign. As the House will be aware, Ireland has always maintained close relations 'across the aisle' in U.S. politics, working in particular to maintain strong bipartisan support for the peace process in Northern Ireland and the continued implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and we will continue to do so. The forthcoming U.S. elections, both for the Presidency and for Congress, are a matter for the American people and for the American people alone. Regardless of the outcome of these elections, we are committed to strengthening relations with the Administration and Congress, as we have always done.

On the matter of the protests in the United States, as I have stated previously, I am deeply concerned about the issues of racial inequality and racism that underpin them. I have raised these issues on multiple occasions with the U.S. Ambassador, Edward Crawford, and I continue to call for a de-escalation of tensions and a deepening of engagement at the community and political level.

I welcome the debate it has opened up, not just in the U.S. but in our own society too and elsewhere, and believe that the stories of those who have experienced racism and exclusion must continue to be heard. I also believe that creating a more inclusive society must be a proactive endeavour, which is why I was delighted to announce during my visit that, from next summer, Ireland will partner with the US Council on International Educational Exchange to support ten students from Minority Serving Institutions in the United States to study here as part of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship programme.