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(From Kate McCabe (IAUC President): Below you'll find the text of an open letter to President Obama in support of targeted American investment in the north of Ireland. Many of the larger Irish American groups have signed on, and we are hoping to get local groups signed on as well (for ex., Baltimore AOH) so that we can show that the support for this issue spans the breadth and width of the country. If you are part of another group outside of the IAUC, please consider signing on.
Please feel free to pass this on to others that you know! Contact me with any confirmed additions or if you have any questions!
Building peace, prosperity and justice in Northern Ireland
Dear President Obama,
In May 2008, the Comptroller of New York City, William Thompson, announced a $150m investment in a new Fund which will make investments in projects in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. This fund has a $750m target. The commitment by the New York Comptroller, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to end discrimination in the north of Ireland, highlights the critical importance of economic development to underpin the peace process.
“We expect that other public and private investment funds will increasingly make Northern Ireland a major focus of their investment decision making. While our number one priority is a strong return on our investment, we are encouraged that these projects will promote sustainable development and equality of opportunity, and will help to improve the economic condition of those who have been disadvantaged by patterns of historic exclusion and by nearly 30 years of civil strife,” Comptroller Thompson said.
On March 16, 2009, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli pledged to invest $30m in transformational projects in the north of Ireland and expressed his certainty that the investment would yield strong, long-term returns for state employees. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness welcomed the announcement, stating that the new investment from New York State will help to support a peace process which aims to “replace inequality with equality, injustice with justice, exclusion with inclusion, division with partnership.”
The Irish peace process is one of the world’s great peace success stories, yet without U.S. assistance it is doubtful whether the warring parties would ever have come to the peace table. Today, the need for American leadership is greater than ever as a power-sharing government beds down in Northern Ireland, building all-island bridges of co-operation and friendship with the Irish Government and reconstructing its economy.
As supporters of the Irish peace process, we recognize the pivotal importance of the MacBride Principles on Fair Employment which have been championed by the U.S. Targeted American investment in areas of need builds upon the MacBride foundation by encouraging U.S. investors to make fully informed investment decisions that benefit all sectors of society -- especially those communities which have experienced a historical and enduring state of social and economic inequality.
It is the stated position of the U.S. government that the promotion of investment in Northern Ireland is integral for the lasting security and stability of the new power-sharing government. It is our view that any investment in the new equity funds will make a strong monetary return for the American taxpayer while shoring up the peace in the north of Ireland. Such investments can also help provide a level playing field for all communities.
However, as the Public Advocate of New York City, Betsy Gotbaum recently stated: “The fight for equal opportunity in Northern Ireland is far from over.”
As Irish American organizations, we are lobbying our state and city treasurers and comptrollers to back the new investment drive in the Irish peace process with the proviso that monies invested by American pension funds go to those areas previously marginalized in terms of economic activity.
We urge you, as someone of Irish American heritage and leader of the American people, to build on your previous positive statements in regard to Northern Ireland by endorsing these investment initiatives.
Faithfully,
Kate McCabe Art McCabe
President, Irish American Unity Conference Lawrence Irish Cultural Society
Fr. Sean Mc Manus Robert Dunne
President, Irish National Caucus President, Brehon Law Society
James J. Lamb Seamus Boyle
President, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh National President, Ancient Order of
Hibernians
Stella O’Leary Edmund Lynch
Irish American Democrats Founder, Lawyers Alliance for Justice
in Ireland
Paul Doris
President, Irish Northern Aid
Updated: 11/1/2009
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