The Seanad debated today the question of who would be responsible for inviting US Senator Barack Obama to Ireland as part of his European tour this month.
Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer (left) had asked Seanad leader Donie Cassidy to extend an invitation to the presidential candidate, to which Mr Cassidy responded that he would consider it and get back to Mr Buttimer in 'due course' (click here to watch their exchange).
However, there was some question over whether it would be the responsibility of the Leader, the Cathaoirleach or the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to extend such an invitation.
It is believed the chances of Senator Obama accepting the invite are slim.
Senator Buttimer suggested Mr Obama could address a cross-party group to talk about undocumented Irish in the US as well as US investment here.
One of the candidate's main campaign issues has been to reward US companies for keeping jobs in the US instead of exporting them overseas to countries like Ireland.
According to his campaign, Senator Obama will travel to France, Germany and the UK as well as Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Jordan sometime this month.
