Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today he had reaffirmed Ireland's support for the US-led war on terrorism during a meeting with US President George W. Bush at the White House.
"We'll continue to work with the United States, from Ireland, within the United Nations, within the European Union and in our own special relationship with America," he told reporters outside the mansion.
President Bush "thanked Ireland for our wholehearted support," according to Mr Ahern, who said US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell and Washington's point man on the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Richard Haass, also attended the meeting.
The Taoiseach said Ireland was "cooperating fully" with US efforts to clamp down on terrorists' financing networks, adding "there are areas where we have to tighten our laws."
Mr Ahern said he and President Bush also discussed the situation in the Middle East and efforts to revive the US economy, one of the casualties of the September 11th terror strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The two leaders did not discuss whether President Bush would travel to Ireland, the Taoiseach said.
Mr Ahern said President Bush, mindful of European criticism of the humanitarian costs of the campaign against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, had emphasized US efforts to help the Afghan population.
President Bush discussed efforts to ensure that food and other aid "can continue to get into Afghanistan (and reach) not only the people who have left Afghanistan across the border, but those within the country who are trapped," he said.
AFP