20 MFómh 2011, 17:53
Pat Breen TD, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade is on an official visit to Washington this week, where he will engage in meetings with his United States counterparts on Capitol Hill. Deputy Breen will also use this opportunity to meet with representatives of the Irish Community including meetings with the current and former Chairmen of the Friends of Ireland, Congressmen Peter King and Richie Neal respectively.
While in Washington, Deputy Breen will hold meetings with the IMF and World Bank and with the US Chamber of Commerce.
Deputy Breen said “This is an important opportunity to meet with my US counterparts at a very high level. I intend to use this time constructively and to ensure that every opportunity is used to promote a positive message of Ireland. I will make it clear that Ireland has taken decisive action to date and that we continue to meet fiscal targets and remain a key strategic partner for companies wishing to access European markets. While in the US I will also be meeting with the State Department to outline Ireland's views on the issue of Palestinian statehood and to discuss Ireland's priorities for its chairmanship of the OSCE in 2012.\"
A copy of the itinerary for the visit is attached hereunder
Further Information:
Verona Ní Bhroinn
Press and Public Relations Officer,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
01- 618 3881, 087 2624132
Visit of Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to United States
18-22 September 2011
Sunday 18 September
3.30pm Arrival DL 360 into Reagan National Airport
Monday 19 September
8.30am Breakfast meeting with Ambassador Collins, 2244 S Street NW
11am Meeting with John Buzbee, Senior Advisor on Israel and Palestine, State Department, 22nd and C Street
12noon Marie-Lucie Morin, Executive Director of Irish Constituency, World Bank, 18th St Entrance
1pm Lunch with Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council Darlington House, 1610 20th St NW
2.30pm Meeting with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Tina Kaidanow, State Department, 22nd and C Street
4.45pm Meeting with Peter Rashish, Vice President for Europe and Eurasia at the US Chamber of Commerce, 17th and Connecticut Ave NW
Evening Private
Tuesday 20 September
8:45am IMF Programme, 720 19th Street NW, Room HQ1 2-530
Welcome by the IMF and World Bank by Mr. Tim Callen (IMF) and Mr. Carlos Braga (World Bank).
9:00am Meeting with Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director and Robert Zoellick, World Bank President
9:20am Session 1: About the International Monetary Fund
9:40am Session 2: Impact of the Global Crisis on the International Financial Architecture, Governance, and Reform of the IMF
10:20am Session 3: Lower Income Countries and the IMF
11:10-25am Coffee Break
11:25am Session 4: Overview of the World Economy
12:30pm Luncheon Keynote and Discussion on the Challenges of Global Cooperation
1:45pm Luncheon Ends/Participants Transfer to the World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Room TBC
2:00pm Session 1: Findings of the World Development Report 2011
3:15pm Session 2: Preview of the World Development Report 2013: Jobs and Rethinking Growth Strategies
4:45pm Session 3: Private Sector Development and Business Environment
Wednesday 21 September
Tbc Possible meeting with office of Senator Schumer, Chair of the Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
1.30pm Meeting with Congressman Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the Friends of Ireland, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, 339 Cannon
2pm Meeting with Congressman Richie Neal (D-Mass), former Chair of Friends of Ireland, senior figure on Ways & Means Committee, 2208 Rayburn
3pm Meeting with Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) Chair of the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee, 2308 Rayburn
4pm Meeting with Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, 2373 Rayburn
6.30pm Reception at Ambassador’s Residence, 2244 S Street, for the Irish and business community
Thursday 22 September
8.10am Pick-up at Hotel
9am Depart from Union Station for New York