THE “VERY bright” Taoiseach and his Government were doing everything they could to tackle the economic downturn, the US ambassador to Ireland, Daniel Rooney, said yesterday.
Mr Rooney was speaking at a civic reception by the four local authorities in Kerry at the county buildings in Tralee.
He is in the county to visit the Rose of Tralee festival and to host a seminar.
The ambassador was presented with a specially commissioned Valentia slate plaque featuring the Kerry crest and the Rooney family crest.
Mr Rooney, who owns the Pittsburgh Steelers American Football team, was also presented with a Kerry jersey by mayor of Kerry Bobby O’Connell.
“There is no question that Ireland is one of the oldest and biggest friends of the US,” said Mr Rooney. During a short address to the councillors and visitors to the chamber, who included Oireachtas members Senators Mark Daly and Paul Coghlan and Fine Gael TDs Jimmy Deenihan and Tom Sheahan, Mr Rooney said he had that morning piloted an aircraft into Kerry airport, which he said was “the real plus” to bring business to Kerry.
Mr Rooney also said the US embassy was trying to promote business in Ireland “in every way we can”.
Asked for his opinion of the economic situation, Mr Rooney said: “The Government is doing everything they can . . . Brian Cowen is a very bright person. He is doing everything he can.”
He did not wish to comment on Nama.
The mayor of Kerry, Mr O’Connell, praised Mr Rooney’s initiative in co-founding the Ireland-Fund with Tony O’Reilly in the 1970s. The ambassador is hosting a seminar today at the Fels Point Hotel on sport and tourism.