The White House going green for St Patrick’s Day is a tradition which sees a spike in interest in Ireland and our politics from United States politicians.
American utterances about Ireland can be pure Blarney. But it is important to acknowledge they can also be well informed, influential and helpful.
The US played a decisive role in the peace process, most notably through President Bill Clinton and Senator George Mitchell, but many others also did heavy lifting, such as former Congressman Bruce Morrison, while the Kennedy family’s long involvement continues today through Joe Kennedy III’s role as Special Envoy for Northern Ireland.
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President Joe Biden, the most committed Irish-American occupant of the Oval Office since John F Kennedy, talked on St Patrick’s Day about how his Irishness is intertwined with his Catholic faith.
These are deep, meaningful connections. Perhaps our revulsion at how President Biden and his administration have not used their influence over Israel to bring an end to the bloodshed and terror in Gaza is all the more profound because the US is, first and foremost, a cherished friend.
Indeed, one of the most influential Irish-American groupings puts that spirit of friendship front and centre. The bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus was founded in 1981 by Ted Kennedy, Daniel Moynihan and Tip O’Neill - Joe Biden, then a senator, was another founder member - to support “the cause of peace” in Northern Ireland.
Friends of Ireland co-chair Richard Neal, a Democrat Congressman for Massachusetts, says that the revival of powersharing at Stormont and the sense of cooperation on show between First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly in Washington last week has highlighted the endurance of the Good Friday Agreement.
Discussions are being held by groups like the SDLP’s New Ireland Commission and Ireland’s Future but that should be expanded. Congressman Brendan Boyle argues that Washington, London and Brussels should be involved, as well as Dublin and Belfast
Mr Neal says there should be more conversation about another aspect of the Agreement - its provision for a border poll.
In his assessment there is “a bit of a ways to go” before a poll can be called but that “the idea of a conversation is entirely appropriate”.
Informal discussions are being held by groups like the SDLP’s New Ireland Commission and Ireland’s Future but that should be expanded. Congressman Brendan Boyle, another caucus member, argues that Washington, London and Brussels should be involved, as well as Dublin and Belfast.
Mr Boyle emphasised that “proper planning and preparation” would be vital ahead of any poll. That would be in stark contrast to the Brexit debacle, which he correctly identified as a “great example of what not to do”.
Border poll advocates should heed the warning of what has happened to unionism as its Brexit fantasy has descended into a nightmare of splits and recrimination. More talking, more planning and more reconciliation are needed.
