United States ‘rooting for Ireland’s success’

AMERICA is “rooting” for Ireland to overcome its economic problems and will do all it can to help out, President Barack Obama pledged yesterday.

After 40 minutes of talks at Farmleigh House which took in the EU/IMF bailout, the peace process in the North and the use of Shannon Airport by the US military, the president said Ireland and the US did not just have a commercial trade bond, but also carried a “blood lineage” between each other.

Mr Obama’s indication that he is prepared to use America’s economic muscle to aid Ireland comes in the wake of transatlantic controversy after economist Morgan Kelly claimed that the president’s treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, had vetoed an EU bid to let Ireland “burn” bond-holders to the tune of €30 billion last November as part of the bailout deal.

Mr Geithner shot down the move during a telephone conference of finance chiefs from the G7 group of the world’s biggest economies, thus gravely weakening the Irish fiscal position, according to Mr Kelly.

However, Mr Obama signalled that the US was prepared to take a sympathetic approach to Ireland’s financial woes, noting the ties of family that connect the two countries.

The US president said: “We are rooting for Ireland’s success and we will do everything we can to help on the path to recovery.

“I am glad to see that progress is being made in stabilising the economic situation here. I know it is a hard one but it is one that the Irish people are more than up to the task and can achieve.”

Mr Obama said the two nations had a special bond. “Obviously, it is not just a matter of strategic interests. It’s not just a matter of foreign policy, for the United States and Ireland carries a blood lineage.

“For millions of Irish-Americans this continues to symbolise the homeland and the extraordinary traditions of an extraordinary people.”

Thanking Dublin for its commitment to peace- keeping and overseas aid, the president remarked that Ireland’s international role outranked its size.

“Ireland is a small country but punches above its weight on a range of issues,” he said.

Mr Obama singled out the success of the visit by Queen Elizabeth II as an example to the world on conflict resolution.

He said the “mutual warmth and healing” that surrounded the Queen’s visit sent a signal around the world.

“It sends what Bobby Kennedy once called a ripple of hope,” he said.

Mr Kenny gave the president, who was born in Hawaii, a three volume collection of children’s stories put together from myths and legends from the US state by Trinity professor Padraig Colum.

Mr Kenny said the book was for the president’s daughters to enjoy, but also gave Mr Obama a hurley for himself.