WASHINGTON and DUBLIN, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a multi-city Trade and Investment Mission to the U.S., Ireland's Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, today will attend events in Washington, DC designed to promote economic partnerships between the U.S.

SAN JOSE, Calif.

PALO ALTO, Calif. and DUBLIN, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Weedle, an Ireland-based Internet company, today announced it has received funding totaling U.S.$4 million to expand its social media platform in the U.S. and other global regions.

That was no echo the audience heard when Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen spoke at the White House -- it was Cowen delivering US President Obama's speech.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that the UK will press ahead with ratification of the Lisbon Treaty despite the "no" vote in the Irish referendum.