THE NORTHERN Ireland Assembly is to promote links with the US Congress through a new all-party committee with First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as honorary presidents of the group.
Announcing the move at a reception in the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill yesterday, Speaker of the Northern Assembly William Hay said: “For some time I have been discussing with members of our Assembly how we can build on the strong links that our politicians have already established with colleagues here in the United States, both here in Washington DC and at state level.
“Our many friends here on Capitol Hill have been enthusiastic in their support for such an initiative, and I am delighted that as a result, members of all our political parties have come together to form this new group.”
The chairman of the Friends of Ireland in the House of Representatives, Congressman Richard Neal, who hosted the reception, said: “The announcement made by Speaker Hay that he has formed an all-party USA working group to engage with the Friends of Ireland in the US Congress is particularly good news.
“I am convinced that our two non-partisan organisations will help forge an even closer working relationship between Congress and those who serve in Stormont,” Mr Neal said.
The new group’s official title is the Northern Ireland Assembly All-Party USA Group. Mr Hay has been elected chair with Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness joint presidents.
The aims of the group are:
1) To strengthen and co-ordinate links between members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and members of both houses of Congress of the US;
2) To increase engagement and understanding on issues of political, economic, social, cultural and educational interest to the people of Northern Ireland, and the people of the US;
3) To provide a forum for discussion of such matters, and to facilitate exchanges of information and visits between members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and US elected representatives and members of the administrations at federal and state level.