Congress backs $25m for Ireland fund

A contribution of $25 million to the International Fund for Ireland has been approved by the US House of Representatives.

The contribution is an increase of $5.4 million on the previous year's allocation, and its approval by the House was immediately welcomed by members of the congressional Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs and the Friends of Ireland.

The International Fund for Ireland was established in 1986 by the British and Irish governments to promote economic and social development on both sides of the Border. Chaired by Mr William McArthur, it has offices in Dublin and Belfast.

In maintaining the US obligation to the fund the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr J. Dennis Hastert, was commended by colleagues for contributing to the peace process.

"Our firm commitment to the fund is paying dividends in the form of peace and economic stability in Northern Ireland," said a Democratic congressman, Mr Joseph Crowley, of New York.

Congressman Crowley, who is co-chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, said the past year had seen "the strengthening of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly as well as major progress on IRA decommissioning".

Mr Crowley is also a member of the influential Foreign Relations Committee which authorises all foreign aid funding.

The level of funding was also welcomed by the Republican Party. Republican Congressman, Mr James T. Walsh of New York, said it would send a strong signal at this crucial juncture in the Northern Ireland peace process that the United States was committed to correcting some of the economic hardships that existed in the North.

Other congressmen expressed the hope that the funding would assist in creating jobs and improving cross-community relations in Northern Ireland.

It should also assist in the human-rights training of new members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, a Republican from New York and co-chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs.

Apart from the US, The International Fund receives funding from the EU and other nations.