The Taoiseach says Ireland will be heavily involved in lobbying for reform of the American immigration system.

Enda Kenny was speaking at the annual St Patrick’s Day reception in the East Room of the White House.

The Taoiseach has presented President Barack Obama with the traditional bowl of shamrock - in a bowl engraved with words from a poem by Yeats.

President Obama told the reception that the United States owed the “very idea of America” itself to the influence of the Irish:

Earlier Barack Obama told reporters that immigration is a key topic and that both men want to give greater rights to Irish immigrants in the US:

He also referred to recent developments in the North:

 

The Taoiseach said he wanted illegal Irish immigrants to be able to travel in and out of the US:

Originally published 17/03/2015