31 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed at his recent meeting with the US Special Ambassador, Richard Haass; if he will support the call made by Ambassador Haass for Sinn Féin to join the Policing Board in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3759/02]

Since his appointment by President Bush as Ambassador-at-large with overall responsibility for Ireland last year, Ambassador Haass and I have met on a number of occasions, including in the United States. The Ambassador's most recent visit to Ireland was on 15 January. We had a wide-ranging discussion on international issues of mutual interest. In particular, I took the opportunity to express the Government's appreciation for the ongoing support of President Bush and the US Administration for the peace process and to brief Ambassador Haass on recent developments, including the Government's concern about the deteriorating security situation in north Belfast and the progress made in implementing the Patten recommendations on policing.