Irish American lobby focused on immigration reform in Obama’s second term

Solving undocumented and future flow of Irish into the United States considered vital

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KATE HICKEY,

IrishCentral Editor

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Brian O'Dwyer and Senator Chuck Schumer arrive at the CAIR Commemorative Inauguration Lunch in Washington

Photo by CAIR

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Collins will be replaced by Tipperary native and permanent representative of Ireland to the United Nations Anne Anderson. She will be the first female Irish ambassador to the United States.

O’Dwyer also passed comment on who would replace Dan Rooney as the US ambassador in Ireland.

He said, “We think Mark Tuohey will be the best representative that we’ve ever had.”

Tuohey, who was present at the CAIR event, is a partner in Brown Rudnick and is well known in Irish American circles. Having expressed interest in replacing Steeler’s boss Rooney, he is currently the frontrunner for the position.

Both O’Dwyer and Collins also thanked all of those, including the Irish government, who had helped those in need following the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy along the east coast, from the firefighters to those who donated to the Red Cross and Irish Day of Action.

The Washington event was attended by various representatives from Washington and New York including the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, the Irish Business Organization, Irish Network in New York, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, press, other emigrant groups, and representatives from the Irish community.

As attendees filed out to take in the atmosphere of Washington as the city prepared for Obama’s public inauguration, each guest signed posters which will find permanent residence at Ollie Hayes’ pub in the President’s ancestral home of Moneygall, County Offaly. They read, “There’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama,” and “From Moneygall, Offaly, to the White House.”

Read more: Year ends with emigration from Ireland highest since Famine times

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