A chara, – I doubt that John E O’Beirne (February 9th) speaks for many Irish-Americans in feeling that, having left Irish politicians behind, he doesn’t want to see their “ugly mugs” on St Patrick’s Day visits to the White House. Even if he did, it would be irrelevant. The purpose of such visits is hardly to subject Mr O’Beirne to unappealing countenances. Rather, it is to keep a relationship that is vital to Ireland on the US agenda. Yes, there is a degree of ritual and symbolism in this tradition, but it serves a purpose.
The presence of the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister at the White House is a tribute to the role of the United States – and the direct intervention of President Clinton – in forging peace in that troubled province; keeping the North on the American radar will be important in ensuring the viability of newly devolved institutions.
Additionally, public acknowledgment of the strides taken toward peaceful co-existence in the North will hopefully influence that segment of Irish-American opinion that is more engaged with home affairs than Mr O’Beirne, and sometimes finds it easy, from afar, to support elements in the North that do not work in the interests of peace.
The experiences and counsel of the Northern politicians will also be valuable to President Obama in his efforts to effect a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Finally, the St Patrick’s Day meeting is a rare chance for a small country to impress its concerns upon the American president; since American immigration, military and economic policies have direct effects on Irish society and economy, such an opportunity should not be squandered.
It seems an abdication of civic responsibility for Mr O’Beirne to emigrate and then wash his hands, not only of his former country, but of the efforts of his adopted home to improve the “failed state” conditions that compelled him to leave. – Is mise,
Madam, – What planet is Paschal Mooney on (“St Patrick’s Day junkets defended”, Breaking News, February 10th)? He stated, that sectors of the media that criticised Government figures travelling to St Patrick’s Day celebrations abroad were “playing to the populous mob”.
The “populous mob” he referred to in his speech before the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs constitutes the people of Ireland. The same ones who elected him.
He’s correct, we don’t want him and his ilk washing our dirty laundry in the reception rooms of foreign embassies. But this is not begrudgery or cynicism on our part. We’re just sick of watching our representatives abroad gurning for the camera every St Patrick’s Day, selling Ireland as a green and beauteous land, while at home businesses close, dole queues lengthen, homes are repossessed and unfinished houses blight the very countryside they’re trying to sell.
We need our elected representatives here, working for us to extricate us from the economic crisis they’ve landed us in – not abroad running up even more debt to pass on to us and our children.
Will Mr Mooney be booking into a modest bed and breakfast, or will this be yet another five-star junket aimed at showing those “out foreign” that we Irish are still contenders? The lack of self awareness displayed by the current Government would be impressive, were it not so gut-wrenchingly embarrassing. Bring on a general election. – Yours, etc,