Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the House. This matter relates to the appointment of an ambassador from the US to Ireland. Since coming into office for his second term, the US President, Mr. Obama, has not yet appointed an ambassador to this country. This has been the longest gap since 1927. There are only 14 countries to which the US has not appointed an ambassador, the Arctic Council, Belarus, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Guatemala, Romania, Russia, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela. Some of those, one could say, are not the most glamorous of locations and possibly quite dangerous. With others, there are political issues between them and the United States which might explain why no ambassador has been appointed.

When it comes to Ireland, however, it is somewhat disappointing for us that we are drifting into the third year with no ambassador from a country which we hold in high esteem, in which we have so many citizens and which has so many people with Irish heritage. Previous ambassadors have played significant roles in the Northern Ireland peace process, particularly Jean Kennedy Smith. Now, in the North the Haass talks have broken down and the engagement of the United States is critically important. Having an ambassador on this side of the Border would be critical in ensuring the success of future talks. What has been raised by the Department to ensure there will be a US ambassador appointed before the next St. Patrick’s Day?