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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!   [email protected]

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

                                       ****************************************


                                                          

INA supports rights of former IRA Prisoners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 26 2008

Contact: Matt Morrison, (314) 727.7119
   
FORMER IRA PRISONERS IN THE US CALL FOR FINAL RESOLUTION OF LEGAL STATUS; IRISH AMERICAN GROUPS UNITED IN SUPPORT

May 26, 2008— As the peace process in the north of Ireland continues to unfold, a group of former IRA prisoners now living in the United States is launching a campaign to bring a permanent resolution to their legal status in the U.S.  Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) president Kate McCabe, Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) president Jack Meehan, and Irish Northern Aid (INA) president Paul Doris today declared their enthusiastic support for the newly formed “Thar Saile.”  

Paul Harkin, vice president of the IAUC and a former prisoner himself, announced the formation of Thar Saile, Irish for “Overseas.” Thar Saile is made up of former prisoners, many of whom have faced deportation, who have been peacefully and productively living, working, and raising families in the US for decades.  Many are married to American wives and are the fathers of American born children.

In one of his last acts before leaving office in 2000, President Clinton announced that deportation proceedings against these men would be halted and they would move into “deferred action” status.  This action was hailed both as a victory for the Irish American community and as a part of the peace dividend for those courageously working to end the ongoing conflict in the north of Ireland.  It has become clear, however, that this remains unfinished business. 

“The status of these men is unclear and ambiguous,” said Harkin.  “We cannot travel back to Ireland to visit family; work permit renewals are an ongoing problem, frequently jeopardizing employment; and the deferred action umbrella did not cover all of the former prisoners in the U.S., some of whom are still living in the shadows.”

The IAUC has released a document entitled “Prisoners of Peace.”  This document makes the case that reintegration of former prisoners is a first and critical step in any peace process.  Ironically, in the north of Ireland, former prisoners are holding elected office and working together to build a new society.  Only in the U.S. is their status still unresolved.

The objective of Thar Saile is to end the uncertainty for these men and their families by providing them with a permanent legal status and the right to live, work, and travel unencumbered.   Thar Saile will launch a broad-based education and communication campaign around this issue and will work with their supporters around the US to bring this issue to the attention of all major political candidates.

Former Prisoners are available for interviews. 


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