Cowen Makes First Contact With Obama

The Taoiseach has spoken for the first time to US President-elect Barack Obama.

The call was made on Tuesday night and during a fifteen-minute phone converstation, Mr Cowen congratulated him on his election and said he hoped bilateral relations would "continue to flourish" in coming years.

In a statement released from the Taoiseach's office, Mr Cowen said he informed Mr Obama that devolution in the North was back on track after Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party had resolved their row over justice and policing matters.

Mr Cowen also invited Mr Obama to visit Ireland during his presidency and visit his ancestral home in Offaly.

The statement further said: "Mr Cowen stressed the importance the Government attaches to Ireland’s relationship with the United States and expressed his desire that the relationship would continue to flourish in the coming years.

"He told the President elect of his personal conviction that it was now a mature, two-way relationship and should be developed on that basis."

There was however no indication whether the Taoiseach had raised the issue of Mr Obama's plans to force American companies operating abroad to pay a proportion of tax back to the US.

There is continuing concern the policy could see a reduction in foreign investment from the US for Ireland.

(DW)