New Secretary of State John Kerry met with Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore at the State Department on Monday, and both spoke of the close ties between Ireland and the U.S.

Irish government ministers have admitted to ‘difficulties’ in their bid to renegotiate the terms of the bank bailout deal with the European Central Bank.

An Irishman is among those who were kidnapped while working in an oil field in Algeria in the early hours of Wednesday morning. A group connected to the terror cell Al Qaeda is reportedly claiming responsibility for the kidnapping.

A new Millward Brown poll in Sunday’s Independent has found that only 11 percent of people polled would choose a Fine Gael / Labour coalition should a general election be called.

The President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso and the College of Commissioners visited Dublin today for meetings with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and members of the Government to discuss working together with the Irish Presidency on its key priorities of stability, jobs and growth for Europe.

The Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said the New Year will bring hope, possibility and confidence to Ireland as the country enters its presidency of the European Union.
 
Kenny said the presidency will bring hope and confidence to people of Ireland by delivering jobs, stability and economic growth.
 
He said “We all know too well here in Ireland the huge sacrifices the crisis has meant. The people of Europe and Ireland need to know and need to see there is progress being made. That there is a next step to recovery.”
 
The Irish leader was joined by the Deputy leader Eamon Gilmore and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton at a special flag-raising ceremony at Dublin Castle, to mark the beginning of Ireland's six-month term.
 
Kenny insists that stronger relations with EU member states would lead to a brighter future for Ireland.
 
He said “The Irish presidency in 2013 will be about three crucial words: stability, jobs and growth.
 
"There are real actions to back up those three words. We will be in the business of solution, a recovery country, driving recovery in Europe."
 
The ceremony at Dublin Castle marked the beginning of Ireland’s seventh presidential term, honored the incoming European Year of Citizens and celebrates 40 years since Ireland entered the EU in 1973.
 
Kenny said “Let this presidency and the new year, this European year of the citizen, bring new hope, new possibility and new confidence to our peoples…And above all, may it find that, together, this family of Europeans, we are making a richer and more sustainable future for all our peoples.”

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore called on the Israeli government to withdraw its plans to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank yesterday.

There is new hope for the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US, a former US Congressman has said.

Ireland’s Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Eamon Gilmore has said marriage for gay couples is a human right and said he would like to see a referendum in Ireland take place.

In an historic first, Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore both took part in this year’s Remembrance Day services. Kenny paid homage by laying a wreath of laurels in Enniskillen, while Gilmore was on hand in Belfast for the ceremonies.

Ireland’s Deputy Leader Eamon Gilmore has stated that the win by President Obama gives new hope for comprehensive immigration reform.

Ireland’s economic collapse has hit the diplomatic gift business – Irish ambassadors across the world are now handing over $10 cufflinks and $15 key rings to dignitaries.

A Dublin man has been charged with criminal damage for throwing eggs at a car the Deputy Prime Minister was traveling in, on Friday.

Tanaiste (deputy leader) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore begins a busy program of political and economic events in New York on Wednesday, culminating on Friday, when he will deliver Ireland’s national statement at the general debate of the of the United Nations General Assembly.  

Tánaiste (Ireland’s deputy leader) and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore has expressed his profound regrets on behalf of the Irish Government and people of Ireland at the death of the US Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, as a result of the 11th September attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi.

Irish Tanaiste (Foreign Minister) Eamon Gilmore will travel to New York from September 24-28 to conduct United Nations business on behalf of Ireland.