Dublin would become the centre of relations between the European Union and North America under a new Fine Gael plan to establish a "transatlantic foundation" in the city.
The foundation would be a permanent forum for the development of policy on issues of mutual importance and would mean that Dublin "can be to transatlantic co-operation what Helsinki is to security, or Geneva to human rights", according to the party's spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Gay Mitchell.
Announcing the proposal yesterday, Mr Mitchell said the body would be established by statute but would be independent, under a North American president and an EU secretary general.