The US special envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy has spoken of the importance of restoring power-sharing in the North following an official visit with senior members of the Irish Government.
Last December, US president Joe Biden appointed former US congressman Joe Kennedy III, a member of one of the most famous American political families, as US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs.
In a roundtable discussion with journalists following his meetings, he said the sooner power-sharing institutions are re-established “the better”.
“It is very important that they get back up and running. I know that all five party leaders feel the same. I know they all feel, like I do, that the sooner they are able to get up and running, the better for everyone.
“There is a real commitment by those party leaders to get up and running. I also know having spent time as a member of Congress, politics is not always easy and sometimes the closer you get to it, the more complicated it is. There is often a process that has to play out through there. I understand that, I respect that.
“As the head of civil service has said, there are changes that need to be made that only an executive will have the authority to do. I think there is an added impetus and need to get back into government. I know that is the intent of all of the parties and I hope they are able to get there as soon as they can.
“I look forward to doing what we can to help, where we can, to provide the space for that to be able to come to pass. I’m hopeful progress comes sooner rather than later.” He said he was hugely optimistic for the future of Northern Ireland.
“When you look at the obstacles that Northern Ireland has navigated through, hundreds of years of conflict and disruption, to now 25 years of peace, I’m extremely encouraged and optimistic for the future of Northern Ireland.”
Mr Kennedy and US ambassador Claire Cronin held meetings with Tánaiste Micheál Martin and then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Tuesday.
Mr Kennedy said the visits were “encouraging”. He said “continued economic success in Northern Ireland is clearly in the interests of Ireland. The Irish Government has committed to doing what they can to try and support the people the way they can, particularly around values on a shared Ireland and shared economy.”
Mr Kennedy said he has been busy pulling together a major trade delegation which he wants to bring to Northern Ireland in the autumn.
He said he wants to “identify the right mix of folks to make this the best fix for where the Northern Ireland economy is at the moment. That is part of what we are working through, we are trying to get the right fit”.
