Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DUBLIN338
2008-06-11 10:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

CODEL LEAHY TALKS NORTHERN IRELAND, IMMIGRATION,

Tags:  OVIP PGOV PREL ECON CONS EI 
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VZCZCXRO6385
PP RUEHBL
DE RUEHDL #0338 1631015
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111015Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9246
INFO RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST PRIORITY 0765
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000338 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018
TAGS: OVIP PGOV PREL ECON CONS EI
SUBJECT: CODEL LEAHY TALKS NORTHERN IRELAND, IMMIGRATION,
AND SUB-PRIME WITH SENIOR IRISH OFFICIALS

Classified By: Amb. Thomas Foley. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000338

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018
TAGS: OVIP PGOV PREL ECON CONS EI
SUBJECT: CODEL LEAHY TALKS NORTHERN IRELAND, IMMIGRATION,
AND SUB-PRIME WITH SENIOR IRISH OFFICIALS

Classified By: Amb. Thomas Foley. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: Senators Patrick Leahy, Thad Cochran, and
Richard Shelby visited Ireland May 24-27, 2008, meeting Irish
Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Brian Cowen, Finance Minister
Brian Lenihan, Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, and President
Mary McAleese. Headlining the Irish agenda was to say "thank
you" for U.S. support of the Northern Ireland peace process
and in promoting economic development and investment in
Ireland. Each Irish official raised concern about the fate
of Irish citizens living illegally in the U.S. Senator Leahy
made a commitment to the Irish leaders to try to resolve this
immigration issue on his return to Washington. Senator Leahy
briefly participated in the international cluster munitions
conference ongoing in Dublin. This cable reports only on
meetings attended by EMBOFFs. End summary.

--------------
Meeting with the Prime Minister
--------------


2. (C) Prime Minister Cowen thanked Senator Leahy for U.S.
support of Ireland over the years, especially in the Northern
Ireland peace process and in promoting economic development
and investment in Ireland. Cowen stressed he is firmly
committed to ensuring that Ireland's excellent bilateral
relations with the U.S. remain undiminished even as the
&hook8 of the Northern Ireland peace process becomes less
important in the future. He also indicated that the Irish
Government would remain vigilant in its efforts to assist the
Irish Diaspora, singling out his particular concern for the
plight of the Irish living illegally in the U.S. Leahy
committed himself to the Prime Minister to look into a
special bilateral visa program for the Irish ) this year if
possible. He said that he would meet soon with Irish
Ambassador Michael Collins to discuss this issue.

--------------
Meeting with the Finance Minister
--------------


3. (C) Senators Cochran and Shelby met with the new Finance
Minister Brian Lenihan, who assured the Senators that Irish
banks have virtually no exposure to sub-prime mortgages and
that banks appear sound. Lenihan noted that some Irish
financial institutions had tried to set up such operations
but the effort "did not amount to much." Lenihan said that
he was under some pressure to "fix" Ireland's struggling
housing sector but stated that he was not prepared to make
any "drastic change."


4. (SBU) Lenihan said he will prepare a tough budget this
year given the slowdown in the Irish economy. Michael
McGrath, Assistant Secretary of the Budget and Economic
Division, said that the housing downturn will shave 3 to 3.5
percent off of GDP growth this year. (Note: The consensus
forecast for Irish GDP growth in 2008 is approximately 3
percent. End Note.) McGrath added, however, that the
underlying fundamentals of the economy were very strong and
he expected a pickup in growth next year and beyond.

--------------
Meeting with the Foreign Minister
--------------


5. (C) Foreign Minister Martin went out of his way to
squeeze a late-evening meeting into his schedule between two
overseas trips. During the discussion, Martin stressed that
the Irish Government was firmly committed to economic growth
in the North and North-South cooperation to ensure that
Northern Ireland remains peaceful. He thanked the Senators
for U.S. support of the peace process, including the recent
investment conference in Belfast. Martin also raised his
concern about the Irish living illegally in the U.S. As he
did with the Prime Minister, Leahy committed himself to
helping resolve Irish immigration concerns.

--------------
Cluster Munitions
--------------


6. (U) Senator Leahy participated in the ongoing
international cluster munitions conference, meeting with
cluster munitions survivors and participating in a panel
discussion titled &United States and Cluster Munitions.8
Other panelists were Lord Alf Dubs, Ken Rutherford, and Steve
Goose. The panel discussion was open to conference
delegates, NGOs, and media representatives. EMBOFFs did not
participate in the cluster munitions conference events.


7. (U) CODEL Leahy has cleared on this cable.
FOLEY