Enda Kenny, TD

We are very grateful for your firm friendship and your wise counsel.You are helping to the change the relationship between Ireland and America, as have so many great Irish Americans in our history.

It is has never been more important that we build on these links and look ahead to the future. Ireland is a small, open, globalised economy.

As Taoiseach, I will be open and truthful with the Irish people as we tackle these challenges over the next few years. Because I have great faith in the Irish people – their ingenuity, their passion, their sense of decency, their resilience in the face of difficulty, their pride in their country.