Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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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?

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the issue of the appointment of a US ambassador to Ireland. The former ambassador, Mr. Dan Rooney, completed his mission to Ireland on 14 December 2012. Pending the nomination of his successor, the deputy head of mission at the US embassy is acting in the capacity of chargé d'affaires, ad interim. He and his colleagues at the embassy are in frequent contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on a broad range of issues of mutual concern.
While the appointment of a new ambassador is a matter for the sending state to initiate, and we are conscious that the process for ambassadorial nomination and appointment is rigorous and lengthy, the Tánaiste is keen to see that process concluded as soon as possible and to welcoming and working with the new US ambassador to Ireland at the earliest opportunity. It is a matter to which the Government attaches considerable importance. The Taoiseach raised the issue with the US President, Mr. Obama, in their discussions during his St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington DC last month.
Members will agree with me that it is only fitting that there be a resident US ambassador to Ireland to reflect the extraordinary strength and depth of the relationship that exists between our two countries. That relationship is evident in so many ways. For example, the US is home to our largest and most powerful diaspora of approximately 36 million people. It is our most important source of foreign direct investment, as well as one of our top sources of investment, trade and tourists. It remains an indispensable partner in the Northern Ireland peace process. We will continue to work on the further development of all these aspects of our bilateral relationship with the United States.
The Government is in continuing contact with the US authorities on the appointment of a new US ambassador. We expect that a nomination will be forthcoming in the near future.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I am encouraged by the fact the Government expects a nomination to be forthcoming in the near future. We hope that it will be a matter of weeks or months and not to be back here next St. Patrick’s Day asking the same question.