Taoiseach on investment visit to US

THE MESSAGE that “Ireland is open for business” is the central theme of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s visit to New York this week to promote inward investment.

The Taoiseach will depart for the US by Government aircraft this afternoon after taking Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil.

Tomorrow evening Mr Kenny will be guest of honour at the annual dinner of the American Ireland Fund in the Lincoln Center, which will have an attendance of 1,200 and is expected to raise in excess of $2.5 million (€1.68 million) for various Irish charities.

At the dinner, former boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who has ancestral connections with Ennis, Co Clare, and executive vice-president of Coca-Cola, Irial Finan, will receive awards for their charity work.

The Taoiseach’s programme begins with interviews this evening with Reuters and Fox Business Network followed by an Irish-American community reception.

Tomorrow he is due to appear on the Out of Irelandtelevision programme, presented by Patricia O'Reilly, which is broadcast widely throughout the US.

This is followed by a visit to the New York Stock Exchange and a lunch at the Council on Foreign Relations where former US envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process, Dr Richard Haass, will chair a discussion.

Mr Kenny will also have private meetings with potential investors.