Keating calls for invitation for State visit to be extended to President Obama

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating, who previously requested the Irish Government to invite the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to address both Houses of the Oireachtas, has reiterated his request for an invitation for a State visit to be extended to the newly re-elected President. 

Deputy Keating has previously written to An Taoiseach asking that the Irish Government extends an official State invitation to the President following his attendance at the G8 Summit in Fermanagh in June 2013.

Deputy Keating is also aware that Lucan Community College has written separately to President Obama inviting him, along with his children, to visit the College to see, first-hand, the Irish education system and to give the students an opportunity to greet the President in the event that he visits Ireland in June.

“The hosting of the G8 Summit in the Lough Erne complex, in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, on 17th and 18th June 2013 presents an exciting opportunity for Ireland. Prime Minister, David Cameron, said he wanted the world to see what a fantastic place Northern Ireland is. While I agree that this represents a chance to showcase all that Northern Ireland has to offer, it too presents a chance to put all of Ireland under the global media microscope and to demonstrate, especially to President Obama, what a wonderful place all of Ireland is.

“This June, world leaders from Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy and the EU, along with the President of the United States, will spend two days on this island. We cannot let this opportunity pass and I am sure that all my Oireachtas colleagues, and those in the Local Authorities throughout the State, will join with me in calling for a State visit by the President Obama to the Republic of Ireland.”