James Casey Kenny, a co-owner of Kenny Construction Company in Chicago, answered questions at a hearing attended only by Sen. George Allen, the Virginia Republican. and the ranking Democrat on the committee, Sen. Joseph Biden, Democrat of Delaware.
After perfunctory opening remarks and being introduced by senators from his home state, Democrat Richard Durbin and Republican Peter Fitzgerald, Kenny was questioned on what role he would play in the peace process.
Kenny made it clear that he would not be a proactive ambassador, preferring to act “when asked” on the peace process.
“How did the State Department and White House describe the kind of role you would play?” Sen. Biden asked.
“When asked, I will become involved,” Kenny replied.
He said he was impressed with the White House’s special envoy to Ireland, Ambassador Richard Haass, who would “stay on top of the ball.”
Former ambassador to Ireland Richard Egan, like Kenny a financial backerof President Bush with no previous diplomatic experience, is said to have lamented not being allowed a more “hands on” approach in the process during his tenure in Dublin.
Egan left the post at the end of 2002. Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have been critical of the length of time it has taken to install a replacement.
Kenny told the committee that he believed the process was progressing with “small footsteps” at this time. He said it was a good sign that “everyone’s talking” in the run up to possible new elections this fall.
“I hope you’ll push on keeping the key involvement of the administration [in the peace process],” Biden said.
Kenny, who’s been a significant financial and organizational supporter of the Republican Party in Illinois for both the first President Bush and his son, said his lack of formal diplomatic experience is offset by his love of Ireland. He told of his grandfather’s departure from Mayo and arrival at Ellis Island and his founding of Kenny Construction Company in Chicago.
“I’m honored, humbled, and pretty excited,” Kenny said of his nomination.
He said his business experience — Kenny Construction was a major contractor in the renovation of Soldier Field in Chicago — would help Ireland, whose economy is in a downturn.
“It’s hit a small recession,” he told the committee of the once roaring Celtic Tiger, but he said he would encourage U.S. firms, especially financial services, to consider investment in the republic.
Kenny was accompanied by his wife and the two youngest of their four children. Eight-year-old Kathleen, with luxuriously thick red hair and piercing blue eyes, could easily become a Board Failte poster child once she arrives in Dublin.
Although Sen. Allen was at times confused on the nominee’s name (he first addressed the nominee as “Mr. Kennedy” and then as “Mr. Casey”), there seems to be no confusion on the outcome of the nomination process.
The foreign relations committee is likely to hold its final vote on the Kenny nomination this week. If he is approved, as seems likely, the nomination would then go on to the full Senate sometime in the next few weeks.