Taoiseach Holds Wide Ranging Talks with US Congressional Delegation
The Taoiseach today (June 29th) held wide-ranging discussions on a number of vital issues in US-Ireland relations with a US Congressional Delegation led by Congressman Richie Neal, Chairman of the Friends of Ireland.
The delegation also included:
Rep Tim Murphy, from Pennsylvania
Rep Donald Payne, from New Jersey
Rep Luis Gutierrez, from Illinois
Rep Mike Doyle, from Pennsylvania
Rep Tim Holden, from Pennsylvania
Rep Nydia Velazquez, from NYC
The Taoiseach reiterated the priority he has placed on Ireland's relationship with the United States and looked forward to the further development of that relationship with the implementation of the recommendations of Strategic Review of Ireland-US Relations which he launched on his St Patrick's Day visit to the US. He stressed the importance of human interaction across the Atlantic and the need to develop all opportunities to enable Irish and US citizens to visit, work and study in each others countries.
There was also a lengthy discussion of the prospects for immigration reform in the US and its implications for Irish citizens, including the Irish undocumented community (Reps. Gutierrez and Velazquez have been very active in the campaign for immigration reform and recently attended a bipartisan meeting with President Obama on the topic - see http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Working-Together-for-Immigration-Reform/ ).
The Taoiseach briefed the delegation on recent progress in Northern Ireland. He particularly welcomed the announcements of loyalist decommissioning. There was a discussion on how the US can continue to make a contribution to the peace process, including by assisting with economic development and as a strong example of how a varied, multicultural society can integrate and work together for the greater good.
There was also a discussion on the economic situation. The delegation updated the Taoiseach on the economic reform programme in the US, including tax refrom, while the Taoiseach responded by emphasising the Government's strong commitment to supporting US businesses in Ireland and the transatlantic trading relationship.