Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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422. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on matters raised in correspondence in relation to a building (details supplied) in New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12482/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The American Irish Historical Society, a registered not-for-profit organisation, is a cherished symbol of the profound relationship that has grown between our two countries through the centuries. While the Society is more than its premises, the building on Fifth Avenue is an iconic emblem of Ireland in New York and a vital part of the infrastructure that underpins US-Ireland relations.

I am disappointed and concerned about the proposed sale and I have put on the record of the House my opposition to that sale. Through our Consulate in New York, I have urged the Board of the AIHS to reconsider this decision. The building's loss would be keenly felt by the community in New York and beyond.

I welcome the Statement by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence urging efforts to ensure that the building remains available to the people of New York, the US and Ireland.

There have also been statements by high-profile Irish and Irish-American individuals and institutions in opposition to the sale.

Our Consulate General in New York has been in contact with a range of individuals and organisations in the city about this issue. From these discussions, their assessment is that there is sufficient support among the community for the Society to remain in its current iconic location and to thrive, subject to the right structures being put in place. The Consulate is also maintaining ongoing contact with the President of the AIHS on the situation.

I welcome the Deputy’s question and the correspondence supplied as further evidence of the value and importance the building and the Society play in US-Ireland relations and the desire for the building to remain available to the Irish community of New York and beyond. Keeping the premises on Fifth Avenue available could benefit a huge range of Irish organisations, including Higher Education Institutions and their alumni in the US.

The matter of naming the building or other such changes would, of course, be a matter for decision by the Board of the Society at the right time.

We remain ready to engage in finding a constructive solution that meets the needs of the community and other stakeholders.