Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, has urged US firms to invest in Northern Ireland, saying that the jobs will help to ensure peace there.
Clinton was speaking at the US-Northern Ireland Economic Conference in Washington, where she said that, “a stronger economy in Northern Ireland will help secure a lasting peace and peace in Northern Ireland is a bedrock foreign policy priority for the United States."
Both Clinton and her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, have visited Northern Ireland in the last two months and they have between them met with a variety of politicians and business people in the North.
With major budget cuts in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, emigration has once more become an issue for young Irish people. Meanwhile, dissident Republicans have recently capitalized on the disenfranchisement many young people feel by increasing sectarian and paramilitary attacks.
Clinton told the delegates at the conference that "US companies have recently created more than 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, including 100 jobs created by GE Energy, and more than 300 in the Belfast office of New York Stock Exchange."
She also said that "Dow Chemical will open a supply chain consulting service in Belfast and the Terex Corporation will open a European business services center as well."
As for the peace process, in which her husband was instrumental, Clinton pledged a "renewal of commitment (to the peace process) because in the long-run it's these kinds of jobs and these kinds of opportunities that are more lasting and more predictable."
Jobs, she said, are key as "dissidents continue to exploit every chance they get to influence in those hard-to-reach communities where peace is most fragile."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Searlit | Oct 21, 2010, 06:41 PM EDT
The GOP sold America out to China long before President Obama ever took office, he's still trying to clean up the mess they made.
justhimself | Oct 21, 2010, 03:41 PM EDT
Irish job seekers have always had access to jobs in England for generations, it is just a short hop on the ferry. Thank god, after Ireland left the Common Wealth that England did not react by blocking Irish emigration, which if the shoe was on the other foot the Irish would demand visas and no work permits. If England closed its borders to Irish emigration inthe 50's, there would have been mass starvation in Ireland..
maloney | Oct 20, 2010, 07:42 PM EDT
America spends in Ireland but can't pay it's own bills. China is buying up America as fast as obama can sell it. Beware, it may all come tumbling down.
killowen | Oct 20, 2010, 01:16 PM EDT
Clinton helping the crown like hubby did by bringing Gerry Adams in from the cold. Knightings are due them. Living in or coming from a poodle looking island with its severed head in the control of long occupier neighbour makes for severe dysfunctional behaviour. A people whose usurped harp flys on the Sasanach standards - proclaiming ireland as being in union with them. Next year, 2011, their queen is to arrive to cement their claim. Then the wild exhuberance of that tiger era which is but a pu$$ssy cat version whose nine lives are up. Mysterious oligarch Abramovith, Chelsea's owner is going to sue the irish Gov for billions - another hit on their taxpaying unfortunates. Sad to say but it gets worse with cutbacks that will last for years upon years. Religion that gave them a sense that there was a tomorrow leaves them feeling like lemmings - making for diminished sexual interest.
diannerae | Oct 20, 2010, 11:34 AM EDT
judiron I agree with your post.
judiron | Oct 20, 2010, 10:29 AM EDT
DLW12183, I agree
judiron | Oct 20, 2010, 10:28 AM EDT
Hillary should worry about jobs in the US. All Ireland needs for peace is for the English to go home.
FastEddy | Oct 20, 2010, 10:21 AM EDT
Hillary is the very last one to take investment advise from ... The commissions are way too high and the only reward is an endless invite to rubber chicken demofascist fundraisers. Butt kissing is not optional.
DLW12183 | Oct 20, 2010, 10:03 AM EDT
The US needs to stop spending overseas and use the money to pay its debt down and take care of its own. If Obama keeps spending we will need to borrow from Northern Ireland. The countries of the word love the handouts from the US but otherwise hate the US because they think it is their way to control them. Let the foreign countries take care of their own.