THE GOVERNMENT is to undertake a strategic review of the Ireland-US relationship because it is "timely, in a post-peace process situation", according to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
He told reporters at the end of his week-long visit to New York yesterday: "I think we do have to strategically review what the agenda from now on has to be."
Mr Cowen has commissioned Ambassador to the US Michael Collins to prepare a report for him by the end of the year. This would be "a comprehensive assessment of the new opportunities for the future development of our relationship for consideration by the Government before the end of this year. I believe that this work will also prove invaluable in informing wider initiatives to harness to the power of the Irish diaspora across the world."
He also spoke about the importance of the peace process in promoting reconciliation between different elements of the Irish diaspora. "One of the consequences of the peace process has not just been about the prospects for reconciliation at home but we now have a reconciled diaspora abroad.
"That issue, the politics of Ireland, has been a divisive issue for the diaspora for very many years and I think that now we have a reconciled diaspora around the implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrews agreements.
"That's a very important development, where we can focus now on positive and constructive engagement on the economic and social issues," he added.
Before he left, the Taoiseach met Democratic congressman Richard Neal, chairman of the Friends of Ireland in the US Congress.
"Discussions centred upon where we might go, coupling immigration with economics and how that might play out in the coming months," Mr Neal said afterwards.
Mr Cowen also said yesterday that the Government respected the independence of the European Central Bank (ECB) and currency fluctuations were a reflection of market forces.
He was asked for his response to comments in The Irish Times by the bank's president Jean-Claude Trichet, who said the ECB would not change its monetary policy to assist countries like Ireland, Spain and Portugal, which were experiencing economic difficulties.
"We respect the independence of the ECB," Mr Cowen said. "It has a mandate in relation to price stability to fulfil. It has done that very successfully in my opinion . . .
"Yes, there have been exchange movements vis-a-vis the euro and the dollar and the euro and sterling, and volatile exchange rate movements are not conducive to stability or predictability.
"For that reason one would rather see less of that from a business point of view, but that's the way the market is and the market is dictated by the sentiment that's out there, it's a reflection of some of the difficulties that are arising in other economic areas."
