President Bush has said the divisions between the US and Europe over Iraq are over, and that the two blocs now have a common goal in bringing stability and freedom to that country, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent at Dromoland Castle.
At a joint press conference with the Taoiseach and the European Commission President on the lawn at Dromoland Castle on Saturday, Mr Bush also acknowledged European concerns over the decision to invade Iraq, and the treatment of prisoners. He said the US military would stay in Iraq "as long as necessary, and then leave".
He also pledged that his administration stood ready to help in the Northern Ireland peace process.
As the US President sought to move beyond the bitter divisions on Iraq, the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, implied that the views of the EU must be taken more seriously in the future. The EU was now "an important and political actor" in world affairs, and this was a "new reality" in EU/US relations, he said.
The introduction of the euro, EU enlargement and the recent agreement on the constitutional treaty had brought about this change. "Over the past five years, Europe has gone through an enormous transformation. And now, in discussion with President Bush, we, Prime Minister Ahern and myself, have today spoken in the name of more than 450 million Europeans. This is the new reality in Europe, and the new reality in European Union-United States relations."
President Bush acknowledged that some did not agree with the decision to invade Iraq. "But we all agree that a democratic Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, an Iraq which has its territorial integrity intact is in all our benefit. And so there is a common interest and a common goal to work together to help the Iraqi people realize the benefits of a free society."
He said he hoped NATO would respond positively to the request from the interim Iraqi President, Mr Allawi, to a request for training and equipment. "Because the ultimate success inside of Iraq is going to depend upon the ability of the Iraqi citizens to defend themselves.
"We'll be turning over full sovereignty on June the 30th. That means complete, full sovereignty. The Iraqi government will now make the decisions that are necessary to rebuild their country and to get to free elections."
Mr Bush also acknowledged the criticisms of US troops for the treatment of prisoners, an issue which was raised both by the President, Mrs McAleese, and the Taoiseach in their separate meetings with him. Mr Ahern said he had raised this issue with Mr Bush twice before, and that President Bush was equally concerned about the matter.
"When I had the opportunity of meeting the President on St Patrick's Day, as he kindly does every year for us, we raised these issues. We discussed these issues at the G8 meeting."
The President had given comprehensive answers, "which I think both the Tánaiste and Minister Cowen and myself were very glad to hear his perspective on this, and want to admire it, because these things, unfortunately, happened.
"Of course, we wish they didn't, but they do. And what's important, then, is how they're dealt with, how things improve for the future. And the questions were answered, as far as we were concerned, to our satisfaction."
Mr Bush said he had told both the President and the Taoiseach "I was sick with what happened inside that prison. And so were the American citizens. The action of those troops did not reflect what we think. And it did harm. It did harm, because there are people in Ireland and elsewhere that said, this isn't the America we know, this isn't the America that we believe exists."
He said he had assured Mrs McAleese and Mr Ahern that the matter would be dealt with openly."
He said he knew the Taoiseach and British prime minister wanted to advance the Northern Ireland process in September, and the US administration stood ready to help.
"I wish them all the best. Because, when this conflict is resolved, it will be an example for others that long-simmering disputes can be put behind them and free societies, and peaceful societies, can emerge, for the interest of the peoples which have been involved in those disputes."
He said US forces in Iraq would "stay as long as necessary, and then we will leave". They would work "to stand up an Iraqi security force and police force that is able to function, to work up a chain of command where the Iraqi police and security folks know that they're working for Iraqis, not for Americans.
"Nobody likes war. But remember, let me take a step back and remind you about what happened: There was that resolution out of the United Nations called 1441, it was voted on unanimously, where the world said, disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences.
"That's what the world said. And Saddam Hussein deceived. He didn't allow the inspectors to do their job. And so we had an issue - either you say something and mean it, or you don't."
Asked about his level of unpopularity in Europe, the President said he cared about the image of the US abroad.
"I don't like it when the values of our country are misunderstood because of the actions of some people overseas.
"As far as my own personal standing goes, my job is to do my job. I'm going to do it the way I think is necessary. I'm going to set a vision, I will lead, and we'll just let the chips fall where they may".