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Tánaiste encourages investment in Ireland on Washington visit
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., today set out the key strengths of the Irish economy in a series of engagements in Washington D.C. The Tánaiste's programme commenced with an address to decision-formers at the Brookings Institution, one of the pre-eminent think tanks in the U.S. and included meetings with senior officials at the IMF and discussions with key political leaders on Capitol Hill and at the State Department.
At the event in the Brookings Institution this morning the Tánaiste spoke on the Eurozone crisis and on the Government’s programme to restore economic and financial stability, reduce unemployment and encourage investment. The Tánaiste said that Ireland is "committed to a dialogue based on trust and confidence. Our approach is to engage constructively and co-operatively with our partners, while being clear about our view what is in Ireland’s best interests."
"Ireland has made important progress in stabilising our banking system and our budget deficit. We have introduced a number of measures to boost growth, and we have seen some success. Ireland is now Europe’s best prospect in terms of seeing a programme country returning to the bond market."
"What matters now, is that we make further progress both at European level and in terms of enhancing the programme, on jobs and growth, which is critical to popular acceptance of the necessary measures that are being taken."
The text of the Tánaiste's statement is available at http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=87507.
Tomorrow the Tánaiste will attend the Invest in Ireland Roundtable hosted by President Clinton with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. Later he will address the UN Security Council and meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Ireland's OSCE Chairmanship.