March 7, 2025 (Washington, D.C.)
The Ad Hoc Committee has released a letter to President Trump calling on him to appoint a new Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. For close to thirty years, ever since President Clinton’s appointment of Senator George Mitchell as his Special Envoy, the United States has appointed Special Envoys to end the Troubles and ensure that the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement (GFA) is fully operational in all of its dimensions.
The Agreement is foundational to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and has saved countless lives while encouraging economic prosperity and new American investment. Indeed, the Agreement is considered one of our nation’s great diplomatic achievements in the last two decades.
Former Republican Congressman Jim Walsh, a Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee stated. “There has always been a strong bipartisan Congressional coalition in support of appointing a Special Envoy and every President, Republican and Democrat, has done so. The United States has put a spotlight on the GFA for years and with good reason.
Walsh continued, “The peace has been fragile, the devolved government has been stood down at times, paramilitary gangs still operate and legacy issues remain. Yet, through all the ups and downs the United States has acted as a stabilizing force. The GFA matters deeply to Irish America. Most recently, Irish America worked successfully to protect the GFA and prevent a hard border during recent economic negotiations between the UK and the EU ultimately leading to the Windsor Agreement.
In the letter the Ad Hoc Committee urges the President to appoint a Special Envoy with a broad remit both political and economically. New legacy legislation must be passed to put the Troubles behind us and new energy can help increase police recruitment to reflect the identity of all the people of Northern Ireland. Astonishingly, there is still work to be done by the House of Commons to pass GFA legislation as the debate on a United Ireland quickens.
The letter also notes a new national security issue given the increased tempo of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that seeks to cut and damage vital undersea cables in the Baltic and Irish Seas. The port of Derry/Londonderry could be used as a staging ground and port for U.S. ships working in tandem with their UK and Irish allies.
Bruce Morrison, another Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee stated, “I have been working on the peace process since 1994 and we have made setbacks along the way. Yet the unwavering support of the American people, the Congress and the White House has been an enormous factor in bedding down the peace process. There is still work to be done.”
The Ad Hoc committee encourages President Trump to visit Northern Ireland should he accept the invitation from King Charles for a State Visit. He can once again affirm the USA commitment to the GFA, create new economic links and visit the ancestral home of President
William McKinley whom he greatly admires. Of note, the wonderful Royal Portrush golf course, the location of the upcoming 153rd British Open, is just a few miles away from President
McKinley’s ancestral home.
The Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement was formed in February of 2019 out of a concern that the Good Friday Agreement was in jeopardy as a result of Brexit. The Ad Hoc Committee is bipartisan and chaired by former Republican Congressman James Walsh (R -NY) and former Democratic Congressman Bruce Morrison (D. Conn). The Committee includes
five former American Ambassadors, two former Special Representatives and policy experts. The Ad Hoc Committee has grown to over 80 members and represents the broad spectrum of Irish American groups, organizations and leadership. Follow us at @HocGfa
Contact: Kevin Sullivan
301 538 9080
AdHocGFA.org 