Cowen speaks to Obama

Taoiseach Brian Cowen tonight spoke for the first time to US President-elect Barack Obama.

Mr Cowen congratulated him on his election and said he hoped bilateral relations would flourish in the coming years, during a telephone conversation.

He informed Mr Obama that devolution in the North was back on track after Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) resolved their row over justice and policing matters.

Mr Cowen also invited Mr Obama to visit Ireland during his presidency.

“Mr Cowen stressed the importance the Government attaches to Ireland’s relationship with the United States and expressed his desire that the relationship would continue to flourish in the coming years,” a spokeswoman said.

“He told the President elect of his personal conviction that it was now a mature, two-way relationship and should be developed on that basis.”