The Taoiseach says he expects the White House will encourage US investment in Ireland and he believes President Bush will visit Ireland during his present term of office.
Speaking after more than an hour of talks with President Bush yesterday, Mr Ahern said he was "pleasantly surprised" at the level of the administration's interest in the North. Despite continuing fears that Ireland will slip down the US agenda under the new administration, Mr Ahern said Mr Bush would be available if needed.
"He made it very clear that if I need his assistance he is on the other end of the phone", Mr Ahern said. Confirming this position, President Bush told guests at yesterday's St Patrick's Day White House reception: "The United States stands ready to help."
Asked if he had invited President Bush to visit Ireland, Mr Ahern told reporters afterwards on the White House lawn: "I think we'll see him in Ireland during his first term of office."
Government and Northern Ireland politicians yesterday talked up the Bush administration's interest in Ireland after two days of intensive US engagement with them at a level which surprised many. Following the unprecedented hands-on involvement of President Bill Clinton, the new administration is expected to be less involved on a day-to-day basis.
As well as holding lengthy talks with the Taoiseach, President Bush had short conversations with leaders of each of the North's main parties - including, for the first time in the White House, the DUP.
The Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, whose State Department will handle issues relating to Ireland on a day-today basis, also held a round of detailed meetings with the Taoiseach and the Northern leaders. The National Security Adviser, Dr Condoleezza Rice, Mr Richard Haass, who will be the aide dealing with Northern Ireland, and the ambassador-designate to Ireland, Mr Dick Egan, also attended these meetings to brief themselves on the situation.
President Bush discussed Northern Ireland, the Irish economy and international affairs with Mr Ahern for over an hour. Before the White House reception he invited the Northern leaders to a separate room.
The White House reception, organised after intensive lobbying by Irish-American members of the Republican Party, was considerably more elaborate than initially expected, marking the determination of some in Mr Bush's party to compete with the Democrats for Irish-American support.
Mr Ahern said he had asked President Bush to give priority to the proposed visit to Ireland of the US Commerce Secretary, Mr Don Evans, later this year. The Government will welcome the administration's commitment to encouraging investment against a background of fears that the economic downturn in the US will have a negative effect on such investment.
"The administration are clearly stating", Mr Ahern told reporters, "that they believe the Irish economy should be looked at as an example elsewhere; that the policies we are pursuing are good models that should be looked at; that it's a good place for American capital to go; that our regulatory system is worldclass; and that it's a good place for the administration to be giving the nudge for foreign direct investment to go. That's as good a signal as you can get."