Enda Kenny denies being snubbed by Donald Trump
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied being snubbed by President-Elect Donald Trump on a visit to New York, .
Mr Kenny, who is on the third day of his US trip said he had spoken to Mr Trump on the phone the day after the election and had raised issues relating to Ireland then.
Speaking at the Irish Consulate in New York - just six blocks away from Trump Towers, Mr Kenny said: "This trip was arranged long before the outcome of the election.
"This is a business, trade and investment trip, both on the West coast and here. There are no political meetings on this occasion."
Although no meeting has been scheduled it is understood that Irish officials had been in contact with Mr Trump's team in recent weeks to sound out whether a meeting would be possible.
Mr Kenny added: "Obviously I have spoken on the day he was announced as being the President-elect, to President-elect Trump, and I look forward to meeting him in March.
"We set out the position that we would work with the American administration.
"Some points have been made, and we would forward to working constructively with that administration and in the interests of relations between Ireland and the US."
Mr Kenny said he would fighting to save the J1 visa which Mr Trump vowed to abolish during campaigning.
"I wouldn't want to see that go, I think the J1 has been an incredible opportunity and a brilliant example of connecting different countries, different cultures," said Mr Kenny.
"For young people it has always been an adventure, it has always been a measure of excitement, of freedom to come to a different country experiences a taste of work and having the opportunity of working in a different place."
