The Chairman of the Friends of Ireland caucus, Republican Congressman Mr Jim Walsh (RPCV Nepal), will meet with the newly appointed Chairman of the IFI, Mr Denis Rooney, in Washington today to review continued United States financial support in what is a crucial week in terms of the budget framing process in the US



The Chairman of the Friends of Ireland caucus, Republican Congressman Mr Jim Walsh (RPCV Nepal), will meet with the newly appointed Chairman of the IFI, Mr Denis Rooney, in Washington today to review continued United States financial support in what is a crucial week in terms of the budget framing process in the US

Fund for Ireland seeking continued US support

By Éanna Ó Caollaí

A delegation representing the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) is in Washington this week to press for continued financial support from the US for its work north and south of the border.

The IFI, which was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986, committed more than €36m to projects last year which promote reconciliation and social and economic advance. The Fund's total expenditure since 1986 is more than €750m.

The Chairman of the Friends of Ireland caucus, Republican Congressman Mr Jim Walsh, will meet with the newly appointed Chairman of the IFI, Mr Denis Rooney, in Washington today to review continued United States financial support in what is a crucial week in terms of the budget framing process in the US.

Mr Walsh is a member of the House Appropriations Committee that votes substantial funds annually to support the IFI's peace and reconciliation work in the North and six bordering counties.

In 2004 the US provided funding of US$18.5 to support the IFI and since its foundation has contributed US$421m in total.

Mr Rooney will also be meeting today with Mr Mitchell B. Reiss, the Special Envoy of the President and the Secretary of State for the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Later in the week he will visit USAID, a government agency charged with disbursing funds approved for the IFI.

The visit follows meetings with Canadian representatives in recent months that resulted in Canada doubling its level of financial support for the IFI.

Speaking in Belfast prior to his departure, Mr Rooney said: "We have strong support for continued US funding of the IFI in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

This visit takes place at a time when there are heavy demands on the US budget. Our objective is to reinforce to Congressman Walsh and other members of the Friends of Ireland caucus the fundamental importance of continued US support for building cross community reconciliation and integration in Ireland , north and south of the Border."

Mr Rooney will also meet with Democratic Senator Pat Leahy and Congressman Peter King, both members of the Friends of Ireland caucus - a bipartisan working group of House members involved in Irish American relations.

Mr Rooney is accompanied by the Joint Directors General of the IFI, Mr Alexander Smith and Mr Niall Burgess, who respectively head the IFI offices in Belfast and Dublin.

This story appeared in the issue of June 8 - 14

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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May 28, 2005: This Week's Top Stories The Coyne Column: Love and War in Afghanistan 28 May Sam Farr supports Coffee Growers in Colombia 28 May Elaine Chao wins Woman of Valor award 27 May Nebraska has strong ties with Afghanistan 27 May Arthur Orr to seek Alabama State Senate seat 26 May Murder of John Auffrey remembered in Liberia 26 May Bill Moyers says journalists should be filters for readers 26 May Linda Seyler spent two years in Thailand digging latrines 25 May Chris Shays blasts Bush on stem cell research 25 May George Wolfe to head Loudoun Academy of Science 25 May David Rudenstine heads Cardozo School of Law 24 May Mark Schneider says declaration is "pretty thin gruel" 24 May Robert Blackwill supports seat for India on Security Council 24 May Chris Matthews weighs Thomas Jefferson nomination 24 May Jim Knopf is expert on xeriscape gardening 23 May Mae Jemison receives honorary degree at Wilson 23 May Kenneth Proudfoot says dreams come true 22 May

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