07/03/2012

Taoiseach To Meet President Obama In The White House

The Government has announced that its message around the world for St. Patrick’s Day will be

"Now is the time to invest in Ireland’s recovery".

Announcing this year’s programme, the Taoiseach said: "The Government will use the unique global opportunity of St. Patrick’s Day to bring that message to all our key global markets and to Ireland’s many friends around the world.

"The clear message from the Invest in Ireland event hosted by President Bill Clinton in New York recently was that investors have faith in Ireland and in our capacity to bring about economic recovery. That message was echoed by the Chinese Vice President, Xi Jinping during his recent visit.

"In the report of the Second Global Irish Economic Forum, held in Dublin Castle last October, St. Patrick’s Day was identified as ‘a unique asset for Ireland’ that should be utilised fully as an opportunity to extract maximum marketing effect for the country."

The Taoiseach will travel to Washington, DC as the guest of President Obama for the traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who will visit Canada said: "St. Patrick’s Day is a unique opportunity to promote Ireland abroad. Few, if any, other countries have a national day which is so widely known and celebrated across the entire globe. As a country we should maximise the value we get from such global attention and goodwill.

"The Taoiseach will participate in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and meet Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. He will visit the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, home of the "Fighting Irish", where he will address faculty and students. On the 19th March, which has been designated as "Ireland Day" at the New York Stock Exchange, he will meet business leaders in New York."

The Taoiseach has asked Ministers to include as many business, trade, tourism and investment promotion opportunities as possible in their programmes. He has directed that travel and other costs be kept to the minimum necessary.

(GK)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 March 2012
Minister Will "Unashamedly" Promote Ireland
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said that ministers travelling around the globe for St Patrick’s Day celebrations will “unashamedly” sell the message that Ireland is recovering and is one of the best destinations in the world for inward investment and tourism.
12 March 2012
Obamas Could Return To Ireland
If the US president wins a second term in office he will make a return trip to Ireland, the US ambassador to Ireland has speculated. Dan Rooney thinks that Barack Obama and the First Lady will return with their daughters following the success of the couples' visit last May.
15 March 2010
Taoiseach Visits Silicon Valley Ahead Of St Pats Day
The Taoiseach's tour of the US continues today with a meeting of technology entrepreneurs in California’s Silicon Valley. This morning, Brian Cowen's heavy schedule begins with a meeting of senior executives from leading US multinational companies who have successful investments in Ireland.
10 June 2014
Open Day To Be Held At Wind Farm To Mark Global Wind Day 2014
A public open day is to be held at the Hollyford Wind Farm, giving people the opportunity to "learn about the turbines and renewable electricity". Operators of the wind farm, Energia, will meet visitors to the farm and take them on a guided tour of the facilities.
25 May 2018
Minister For Transport Accused Of Failing To Address M50 Capacity
Sinn Féin has criticised the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, for his "failure to address the serious capacity issues on the M50 motorway". Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Transport, Imelda Munster, has asked Ross to come clean on whether he intends to introduce multi-point tolling in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles using the road.