Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen, spoke with President-elect Barack Obama, on Tuesday, November 18, by phone.

Obama phoned five foreign leaders on Tuesday; in addition to Cowen, he also spoke to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Cowen conveyed his congratulations to Obama on his victory in the election.

Cowen spoke in length with Obama about Ireland's relationship with the U.S. and expressed his intention to keep that relationship strong and flourishing in the years to come. Cowen stressed to Obama that the rapport between both countries is now a mature, two-way relationship and it should be developed on that basis.

Cowen also updated Obama on the agreement reached between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party on the devolution of policing and justice powers on Tuesday.

Cowen extended an invitation to Obama, who has maternal roots in Co. Offaly, to visit Ireland during his term.