Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has become deeply frustrated with the hold-up in Irish funds for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in the Republican controlled US House of Representatives amid clear indications that Ireland is being targeted by some Republicans on the right.
Clinton convened an unprecedented meeting between top State Department officials and the Irish Embassy and personnel from the Northern Ireland office in Washington last week after complaints were made about the holdup in IFI funding over St. Patrick's Day.
$15 million in funding for peace projects in Northern Ireland is being held up. TheIrish E3 immigration visa bill is also in limbo as Republicans continue to oppose it.
The atmosphere at the State Department / Government meeting was described as one of "deep frustration" as both sides battle with the reality of the post Ted Kennedy /Chris Dodd era when most Irish projects on Capitol Hill such as the IFI were usually passed through easily.
What has emerged from those meetings is a worrying sign that Ireland no longer carries the same clout in Washington in the post Kennedy/Dodd era and that Republican right wingers are seizing on the Irish funding issue to hold up State Department initiatives.
Some leading Irish and American figures in Washington are privately urging the Irish Government to step into the modern era and hire full time lobbyists on Capitol Hill like most other governments do to further their agenda.
"Some Republicans are using Ireland as the poster child for no overseas aid," said a leading Irish figure on Capitol Hill. "The Irish agenda is being targeted."
They say that diplomats alone are no longer able to carry the fight in the absence of a Kennedy or a Dodd on Irish issues. There are worrying signs of an Irish backlash.
Even the attack by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the powerful head of the House Foreign Relations Committee on the proposed Che Guevara statue in Galway where she has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to stop, has fueled fears that Ireland is being singled out.
The recent visit of former speaker Nancy Pelosi and a congressional delegation to Dublin has cemented links between Ireland and the Democrats but it is still a long shot that Democrats can regain control of the house in November's election.
Ros-Lehinten and Congressman Jason Chaffetz(R-Utah) are seen as the two main protagonists blocking the International Fund money.
Two Congressmen, Joe Crowley the Queens Democrat, and Peter King the Long Island Republican, released another letter last week seeking the IFI funding.
“For nearly two decades, the United States has been at the forefront of international efforts to promote peace in Northern Ireland.
“The United States has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peace in Northern Ireland through high-level negotiations, diplomacy and grassroots peace-building. While many Americans, including those active in the Irish-American community, are proud of the United States' role in these achievements so far, there is still much work to be done moving forward.
“Unfortunately, a very real increase in sectarian violence in the North has recently erupted, including more bombing incidents in recent years than at any time since 2002-2003. The surge in hostility may aim to derail what has been achieved throughout the peace process, or to take advantage of ongoing tensions and provocations.
“We understand that budgetary pressures on our own government call for careful decisions about funding. Yet, the IFI has already been out substantially in recent years – even as important matters there remain unresolved. The United States has a solid history of maintaining support for the IFI and deserves considerable credit. With so many Americans of Irish descent, our ties to Ireland are strong, and our interests are well-served by remaining deeply engaged in the peace process.”
The letter concluded: “We respectfully request your continued support in providing $15 million for the IFI in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.pilib04 | Apr 03, 2012, 09:12 PM EDT
rpmschevy, actually obama is our Irish President. To be specific, Offaly's favorite son! Is feidir linn.
pilib04 | Apr 03, 2012, 09:11 PM EDT
ciara, you post is similar to the pot calling the kettle black. you have spent the past few months insisting on some type of ethnic litmus test for "irishness". now you accuse american posters of the same thing. you would have loved james connolly (scotland) and padraic pearse (father from england).
seanomelb | Apr 02, 2012, 06:42 PM EDT
If we make another large oil discovery the D##k heads on the right will offer billions in aid.No principals with that lot only greed.
ciaradexy | Apr 02, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT
I love reading all the comments on here which complain about the Irish and yet you want more 'Irish' in the white house and call yourselves Irish. Lads, youre either irish or your not. Which is it? Are you all just talking about yourselves in the third person?
irishcop025 | Apr 02, 2012, 01:35 PM EDT
Why does this surprise anyone? There were tens of thousands of Green Cards secured for the Irish in the early 90's! What did the Irish do when they got them? They put them in their wallets and went back home to Ireland! Now the same people want to come back here. Politicians dont respect people who do not VOTE! The Irish here in the USA don't vote. They refuse to become US citizens and yet want special status. You cant have your cake and eat it too.
rpmschevy | Apr 02, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
Hey Jam 1. Obama is not a Black President. He is a President. Quite being a racist and adding a title to him. Quite segregating him. And thanks to leftist media, I guess he really is White-Black, not Black. 2 - USA can borrow money. It, the interest, has to be paid back. IT IS MY MONEY JAM! It is money of hard working American citizens that is constantly being wasted. My taxes are going up because of waste and overspending. You cannot keep going in debt, eventually, like Greece, it blows up. 2. GOP hurting Obama, just like Pelosi, Reid, etc doing anything to hurt hard working Americans. Get the facts straight. We need to balance the budget. Even Mrs. Clinton's husband had that belief, but now she wants to not do so? Small chump change for Northern Ireland. OK, being that she and her husband, and Kerry, etc are part of your hated 1 percenters, how about she take it from her bank account instead of mine? 3. The GOP has proven over and over again...What? Democrat politicians are the same. Pelosi supports her busom buddies saying they do not need to be part of Health Insurance reform so they can keep more of their money. Reid and Nevada exempted. Jam maybe you need to change you hate to all the politicians and not just GOP. Note spoken as an Independent, who disagrees with both parties and would prefer to go back to the original intent of the Consitution of the USofA. Limited government.
simplesandy | Apr 02, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
@@@@@ STEVENSTAR Excuse me?? WTF are you ranting about. Where did I say that America was not hurting?? What a simpleton. And No I won't judge all of Ireland for your stupidity. Hey how bout asking people outside your front door. I been here long enough to see your country is hurting. You make me laugh to think you’re the only one who thinks nothing is wrong. You must have a great job. Wake the fk up/ you must have been the first one to send in your house tax. well over half of the people didn't , wonder why. maybe because there is a recession?
bradybradyisaid | Apr 02, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
Stevenstar....please back it up with your backbone and facts; just what is in it for bilary? One of the hardest working government officials in the world..That she is!
seamus60 | Apr 02, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT
They should keep their money for as long as their own people are hurting. Keep them rendition flights out of Ireland as well. Shame on anyone making money from such breech of human rights.
IrelandNorth | Apr 02, 2012, 05:31 AM EDT
What price peace? Pay up dudes or we'll go back to killing Brits. Imperialism cost money. If USA wants to recolonise Ireland, invest in it like any other business. Perhaps the Republican Party are punishing us for the 'Che' Galway Bay of piglets incident? Realistically, we only need American money because the mild colonial boys of Leinster Hse. won't loosen the EU purse strings.
irishpjk | Apr 02, 2012, 03:16 AM EDT
Blame the other guys keep the looser in the white? house and she still has a job. Wake up people Hillary looks out for only herself.
bogsidebunny | Apr 02, 2012, 03:01 AM EDT
Yea, yea. Blame it on the Conservative Republicans. Ireland's a festering, fiscal sore and all the babbling by the Liberal Democrats about the poor Irish can't change the fact that The infantile, greedy Celtic Tiger cub Irish are the only ones to blame for their current fiscal dilemma.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:11 PM EDT
Keep up the great work Mrs. Clinton.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:11 PM EDT
Bythebay sounds like a Brit or a westBrit.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:09 PM EDT
Borefield, Is feidir linn.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:07 PM EDT
STEVENSTAR does not speak for the people of Northern Ireland.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:06 PM EDT
The rightwingers teapartiers posting on this blog have no idea that Mrs. Clinton has been an integral part of the Irish peace process for the past 15 years. The International Fund for Ireland does fund projects on both sides of the border, but all projects are geared towards maintaining and promoting the peace accords.
pilib04 | Apr 01, 2012, 08:01 PM EDT
Ros-Lehinton is the hog that made the big stink about the Che monument. Of course, she would be the one holding up funding. I've got an idea. END giving all Cubans automatic citizenship.
IrishDragoon | Apr 01, 2012, 07:53 PM EDT
Popeye 1250 and Irishnewsman have it right! Spot on, lads!
Irishnewsman | Apr 01, 2012, 07:40 PM EDT
Why were at it lets cut off all the millions we give to Pakistanand then lets see what happens
STEVENSTAR | Apr 01, 2012, 07:33 PM EDT
@@@R U KIDDING ME? I am an American living here in Ireland for last 6 yrs. can someone please tell me why just the N.Ireland? I live here in Cork and people are hurting even more. FFS!! read between the lines . there is something in it fo Billery>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IM FROM CORK ALSO I THINK YOU NEED TO GO HOME AND GOTO PLACES IN MID WEST AMERICA AND SEE HOW YOUR OWN PEOPLE ARE HURTING FINANCIALLY AND FORGET ABOUT US ... WE HAVE 4.5 MILLION IRISH IN IRELAND AND YES WE HAVE A DOWN TURN IN THE ECONOMY BUT WE ARE NOT HURTING LIKE WHAT YOUR SAYING 'TYPICAL DRAMATIC AMERICAN' ....
STEVENSTAR | Apr 01, 2012, 07:30 PM EDT
SORRY IM IRISH I WAS BORN HERE AND I LIVE HERE .. WE DO NOT WANT YOUR MONEY THANKS ....!!!
popeye1250 | Apr 01, 2012, 06:37 PM EDT
I'm from the Boston, Mass area origionally,grew up in an Irish Catholic Democrat Union household and I 'm not in favor of giving *Any* foreign country *Any* U.S. Taxpayer Dollars! Even Chris Dodd said back in '92-'93 that "foreign aid" was the most detested govt. program by the constituents and I don't think that's changed! The problem with "foreign aid" is that too many people in Washington are making too much money from that stuff and the stealing starts right in D.C. on K Street with the lobbyists! Take a ride through the Virginia suburbs and you can see the palaces they live in! The lobbyists and others are getting *obscenely rich* from this stuff! If we tried to end all foreign aid which we should just take a guess who'll be running and paying for the, "starving children commercials?" HINT, they're probably driving the latest version of the Mercedes "S" class! "Foreign aid" is bad management, bad policy, it wastes the Taxpayer's money, there is legendary corruption involved in it, (Luxury shopping trips to London and Paris by African "leaders") it makes the Mercedes Benz dealers in foreign countries rich with U.S. Taxpayer Dollare and a thousand other reasons that I don't have room for in here. A sociopath couldn't come up with a better money stealing program.
KerryGold | Apr 01, 2012, 05:21 PM EDT
Money is limited in all countries, so if the US cut back on funds to Northern Ireland, so be it, they are entitled to do so. Unfortunately yes there are people who cannot accept the peace process, but hopefully peace will survive. For those who comment on not giving visas to the Irish, how unfair, we helped build the US, we fought in your wars and Irish men died there too. I can understand ye want to keep the jobs for yourselves, but why treat us different from other nations that ye have visa agreements with. We were the only country that I am aware of to have a national day of mourning for 9/11 and we lost so many Irish people there. We give ye Shannon airport for the military planes and I do not have a problem with that. So many Americans and Irish Americans come here for vacation or live here, and we welcome them. How different it is, when we want visas to go there. The Irish government should have lobbyists in Washington. Its madness that they dont. I never knew there was so much bickering in Irish US relationships till i read this site. As in Northern Ireland where Catholics and Protestants for the most part live in peace, we should be able to get visas to live with ye if that is what we choose and the same applies to US citizens if they wish to live here. We only have one life, so lets live it where we want to live it not just because the place we live is our country of birth.
borefield | Apr 01, 2012, 04:33 PM EDT
Jamthecat needs to get over his idea that Republicans have no agenda other than to hate Obama because he is BLACK!, is he for real or just plain stupid as to what has gone down in the 31/2 yrs. of Obama. What an insult to all the fine Black politians we have, Obama is the one giving the Blacks a bad political reputation. Wise up Lad.
Gearoid4 | Apr 01, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT
@Bythebay, what is this false distinction between "Ireland" and "Northern" Ireland? Both the jurisdictions of the Rep. of Ireland and "Northern" Ireland lie within the Island of Ireland and thus it is nonsensical to use the term "Ireland" as shorthand in relation to the area encompassed by the Irish Republic. This is an annoying trait used by some without thinking about the illogical implications of what they are saying or writing.
IrishDragoon | Apr 01, 2012, 04:11 PM EDT
"Some Republicans are using Ireland as the poster child for no overseas aid," Wouldn't bother me EXCEPT it will probably stop there. Other countrties (who are not populated by white people) will keep sucking at the tit.
barbeszoo | Apr 01, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT
So the irish have no lobbiest in Washington? How did that happen? Every major player from insurance companies, big oil, pharmaceuticals and tom dick harry country has one, so why not? I've got an idea for you.....make it illegal to have lobbiest.... get rid of the I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine gazillionaires along with congress and maybe something will change. Why anyone thinks that electing a different president (except for the fact republicans themselves stated it really didnt matter who they elected, as long as his ten digits worked and he could hold a pen to push their bills through) will make a difference? We will still pay 4.00 at the pump, because the oil companies demand it, not your president. As far as the keystone pipeline, if they do not pass a law that the oil has to stay in the states, it will be sent overseas anyway. Drill baby drill has nothing to do with it. Ship baby ship is their mantra. Oil companies are thumbing their noses because they are in control, not the president, not the people. And they have record profits to prove it.
jamthecat | Apr 01, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT
It amazes me how many people will support the GOP's obstructionist agenda, even when it's hurting themselves or those they care about. They so hate the idea of a black man in the White House and Hillary Clinton, in general, they've blinded themselves to the diseased actions of the Republican Party. 1. The US is not broke; we can borrow money at interest rates that are next to nothing. 2. The GOP will do anything it can to hurt Obama, and has flat out said their number one priority is to make him a one-term president...meaning the needs of the American people come second. 3. The GOP has proven over and over again they cannot be trusted to do anything that will help people but will bend over backwards to help corporations and keep tax breaks for billionaires. All this adds up to one thing -- The Republican Party is the most corrupt, racist, diseased, untrustworthy group to ever darken these shores and should be made extinct. But that won't happen because their little attack chihuahuas will yap too loudly about lies they've chosen to believe and will create too much of a diversion for people to see what the GOP really is -- a modern day rendition of Communistic intentions based on Capitalistic ideas that were proven to be outmoded 80 years ago.
luxefaire | Apr 01, 2012, 01:46 PM EDT
listen, everybodys power is waning there in DC because they are broke. they are being held accountable and that has them pulling the curtains on many things that were all kept afloat with the housing bubble and the paper money swindle and the drug monies galore (All our leaders here are just drug lords, believe that), and the literal theft of our collective product over a long period of time. These geeks in Washington are even having to let all the crack heads out of jail, because they are finally realizing a prison industry costs big money, and it is a pork barrel for good ol' boys, who really do not give a hoot about patriotism or any of that, they just want a military and police force they can use as enforcers of their ways. As you probably know now, their ways aren't all that, so better off, though they take many with them when they fall....b
Monsoonman | Apr 01, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
Perhaps if Obama and his cohorts who are standing in the way of our energy independence, would approve the Keystone Pipeline, the govt's coffers would have some dough to help.
Murph46 | Apr 01, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT
This article a pure leftist propaganda,It cites "some republicans" not naming a one,then names one on a totally different cause.Where is the Who What When Why of reporting in this article.Look who is fronting the Immigration Bill-Chuck Grassley -Republican.Tell me where I am wrong ,this is pure republican bashing.
simplesandy | Apr 01, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT
R U KIDDING ME? I am an American living here in Ireland for last 6 yrs. can someone please tell me why just the N.Ireland? I live here in Cork and people are hurting even more. FFS!! read between the lines . there is something in it fo Billery.
joan1954 | Apr 01, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT
torbreezy is right we have financial problems here and perhaps we need to look at where to cut in the budget. I, for one, would love to see money and transferred to helping our own people who seem to be forgotten anyway by the DC folk. Irish strength in the US is concentrated in the NE and midwest. Irish that migrated south for the most part are conservative and that doesn't mean that they are republican.
fscarlson | Apr 01, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
Anything the present administration is doing right now is highly suspect as we're in an election year. This woman, in fact the whole administration is self serving. Trust me, they don't give a rat's backside if it doesn't serve their personal agenda. My heritage is Irish. To me, the more Irish around, the better. This, however, is a difficult time for America, and it's a time to close our doors for a bit so that we can regroup. We have a president, who half the country thinks is an illegal. Whether he is or not is under investigation. Under his leadership our freedoms are dwindling. He is adding fuel to the racial fire by supporting his own personal agenda. Many who helped vote him into office are rethinking. We have always been a country "of the people, by the people, for the people" and this administration is trying hard to "change" that. As Bippy so well sates in his blog, "Do Not Be Fooled."
odonnell521 | Apr 01, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT
Billions for Israel because of their evangelical supporters' beliefs in the coming rapture, and the Republicans begrudge a few million to help maintain peace in Northern Ireland? Their hypocriscy would be hilarious if it didn't have real world consequences.
Irishnewsman | Apr 01, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT
If you don't want peace in Ireland then your in the right party. The President raciest? Yea, like the bumper sticker that reads.....don't-(re-Nig) That tells you who's raciest, the Party of NO.
BippyBellito | Apr 01, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT
As a long time Irish Republican, I wouldn't trust Hillary with a quarter, let alone trust her motives. You are being "played", my Irish friends. She is not believeable and her boss is the most racist man ever to set foot in the White House (and there have been a few). Do Not Be Fooled.
Edward Donadio | Apr 01, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
I think it is typical of the republican's who have become the party of NO. In the fall elections the american people will vote these these people out of office. Congress approval rating is at an all time low. Kantor has got to go. He says he will compromise but he won't. He lies. GO Irish
torbreezy | Apr 01, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT
Do you not note the increasingly precarious financial situation in America? It behooves the US to exercise fiscal prudence with regard to ALL expenditures and it further behooves us to break with a suspect tradition of simply "rubber-stamping" all that went on before.