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Taoiseach Enda Kenny will today begin an extensive US St. Patrick’s day programme in Washington. Over the weekend he will attend engagements in Boston and New York. The programme in Washington includes a series of political and business engagements, which will include a meeting with President Obama in the White House on Friday.

While in Washington, the Taoiseach will also attend the traditional Speaker’s lunch on Capitol Hill and attend a breakfast meeting with Vice President Biden as well as participate in a number of meetings with political and business leaders and the Irish-American community to emphasise Ireland's economic progress and the case for US immigration reform.

The Taoiseach’s central focus during his US visit will be to highlight the very significant progress made towards Ireland’s economic recovery over the past year including exiting the EU/IMF Programme of Support, successful return to the bond markets and improved job creation. He will emphasise Ireland’s strengths as a location for foreign direct investment and overseas visitors, and promote Irish companies as a source of high quality products and services. On Thursday, the Taoiseach will have a number of economic engagements in Washington, and will also address the American-Ireland Fund.

From Washington, the Taoiseach will travel on to Boston (Sunday) and New York (Monday/Tuesday) where he will meet the newly-elected Mayors of both cities, and will continue to promote Ireland's key messages to the United States, by participating in a number of business and community engagements including the traditional New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade.