IrelandThe Government has said it looks forward to closer ties between the EU and the US after President Bush overcame the challenge of Senator John Kerry to win a second term in the White House.
Both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, last night sent their congratulations to Mr Bush and specifically stressed the importance of the EU-US relationship. As they also conveyed their best wishes to Senator Kerry, the opposition parties called on Mr Bush to moderate his foreign policy in his next term of office. In a statement issued after Mr Kerry conceded defeat, Mr Ahern said he looked forward to building closer relations with the US "at the level of the EU" and at a national level. Saying that the US was always a firm and loyal friend of the peace process, Mr Ahern said he was looking forward to working with Mr Bush to ensure Ireland's links with the US continue to develop "in a broad range of areas of mutual interest".
Before the result was confirmed last evening, Mr Ahern suggested in the Dáil that Mr Bush should take a "more enlightened position" on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol during his second term.
The US was under significant pressure to change its stance on the Kyoto Protocol, he said. "I hope whoever is in the White House will now take a more enlightened position than four years ago when Kyoto was rejected and the US refused to work with other states." Ms Harney said in a separate statement that she looked forward to building on the positive relations that developed between the Government and the Bush administration.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said the American public had had their say and delivered a clear-cut victory to Mr Bush. "I hope that President Bush comes to fully recognise the United Nations as a body of true international stature, with whom a closer working relationship can be mutually beneficial."
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said he hoped Mr Bush "may now adopt a more moderate approach both in terms of international affairs and in regard to domestic politics".
The leader of the Greens, Mr Trevor Sargent, expressed regret at the result, saying that Mr Bush was likely to retain his unilateral approach to international affairs in his second term. "I think it makes the world a more dangerous place."
Sinn Féin TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, wished Mr Bush well and said his party would continue to work with representatives of the Republican and Democrat parties "in the interests of the peace process". He said Sinn Féin had "very serious problems" with the direction of US foreign policy and called for an end of the occupation of Iraq.
The reaction of the SDLP and the DUP to President Bush's re-election summed up the mood among Northern Ireland's politicians.
Mr Mark Durkan, leader of the SDLP, confessed he would have preferred to congratulate president Kerry, but admitted: "I do not believe that his re-election has any adverse implications for our process. President Bush and his administration have continued to be positive and supportive."
On the other hand the Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the DUP, said: "Mr Bush has exercised a balanced judgment in his attitude to Northern Ireland. Relationships built between Northern Ireland and the White House over the last four years can be further developed and we look forward to the continuation of impartiality in the US contribution."
