During his St. Patrick’s week visit, Taoiseach Brian Cowen unveiled the findings of a major review of that same relationship which he initiated last year, and which was carried out by the Irish embassy in Washington under the stewardship of Ambassador Michael Collins.
The review, entitled “Ireland and America: Challenges and Opportunities in a New Context,” is being described by the Irish government as the first significant review of diplomatic relations with the United States since the 1930s.
It announces the planned opening of a new consulate in Atlanta, another later in Houston and the expansion of the Irish honorary consular network.
“When I came to New York last year, I spoke about how America was changing and how our relationship was changing. I asked the ambassador in the United States to prepare a report for me on how we could re-energize and renew that relationship,” Cowen said in New York at the outset of his visit.
“The government approved this report last week and I am launching it during my visit to America for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,” Cowen said.
The report recommends a top to bottom revitalized relationship between Ireland and the United States, one that is shaped to meet the challenges of a new era.
It proposes a “strong and mutually beneficial” economic partnership and what is described as “a deep and enduring engagement with the Irish diaspora in the U.S.”
A portion of that diaspora is envisaged as a “vibrant Irish community with new possibilities for young people to work, gain experience and live in the United States.”
The report points to a “strong partnership” with the Irish American community and with American authorities in caring for the “forgotten Irish.” And it promises strong links with the U.S. presidency and Congress in support of the peace process and Good Friday Agreement.
The review will directly lead to the launching of a number of key initiatives.
Top of the list is the setting up of a new “Ireland-U.S. Strategic Policy Group” which will be chaired by the minister for foreign affairs. This group will oversee implementation and report directly to the taoiseach.
There will be what is described as a new “Irish American Leadership Council” in addition to the expanded diplomatic reach.
The report plans for the development and expansion of business networks. There will be a “reinforcement” of the Washington embassy’s capacity to promote economic relations and development of bilateral foreign policy dialogue with the U.S. on issues ranging from development assistance, human rights, disarmament and non-proliferation to conflict resolution.
While the overall relationship between both countries is the major thrust of the review, it also pledges to develop “targeted engagement” with individual U.S. states.
With regard to immigration, the review points to the development of “Ireland-US bilateral visa arrangements” with a new
reciprocal and renewable two-year working visa arrangement, a “reenergized” J1 visa program, and a “long term solution” for the undocumented Irish.
The review promises “encouragement of new online links” for Irish communities and the wider diaspora in the U.S.
And for those with Irish roots, it will include the availability of new certificates of Irish ancestry for Americans seeking formal acknowledgement of those ties.
Of particular interest to Irish Americans hoping to live and work in Ireland, the review points to a “fast-track naturalization regime” for those with Irish great-grandparents who have studied in Ireland.
There will be, according to the review, improved on-line access to genealogical records; annual arrangements to commemorate the famine in the U.S.; a new leadership development program to connect “emerging leaders” in the U.S. with their counterparts in Ireland, and improved coordination of activities by Irish universities and higher education institutes, this coupled with an expanded internship program for U.S. students with reciprocal placements for Irish students.
There will be enhanced secondary school linkages and the development of curriculum materials in both the U.S. and Ireland; support for growing Irish studies programs, and development of an annual summer school focusing on the Irish story in
America.
The review proposes an officer exchange program between the U.S. State Department and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, a “dedicated education officer” in the Irish embassy in Washington, a series of “high-profile Irish cultural events” in 2011, and investment in existing Irish-American cultural infrastructure, especially in New York.