McCain Was Wrong on Ireland

Recently, Senator Barack Obama asked me to join a distinguished group of leaders who will advise him on Irish American affairs. As the chairman of the Friends of Ireland in the U.S. House of Representatives, it was a great personal honor to be chosen to serve on this senior advisory panel.

I know both Senator Obama and Senator Joe Biden share my longstanding desire to strengthen Irish-American political, economic and cultural ties. And I am certain that an Obama administration will make the pursuit of permanent peace and stability in Northern Ireland a top priority, will enact comprehensive immigration reform that keeps America 's doors open and will improve the quality of life of Irish Americans, and will restore America 's standing in the world.

Like many of us, Obama and Biden come from Irish stock.

Senator Obama's great, great, great grandfather on his mother's side set sail from Co. Offaly in 1850, arriving in New York and eventually settling in Ohio. Senator Biden, who was born in the Irish American stronghold of Scranton, Pennsylvania , traces his ancestry to Co. Mayo.

Since the eighties, Obama has lived and worked on the South Side of Chicago, a neighborhood known for its large and prominent Irish American community. This experience has given him a first-hand account of the remarkable contributions made by Irish immigrants to the United States.

I strongly believe the peace process in Northern Ireland is one of the most significant foreign policy accomplishments in recent memory. And the role the United States played in that effort was indispensable.

The peace accord in Northern Ireland, based on principles developed by George Mitchell, should be viewed as a model for successful conflict resolution around the globe. I know that Senator Obama agrees, and the creation of the advisory panel is an indication of the commitment his administration will bring to securing lasting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

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Nster.com