The American Ireland Fund, the influential philanthropic group, had sent a strongly worded letter of frustration to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the US senate, urging them to confirm the new ambassador to Ireland and end a record delay in filling the role.
The letter was sent two days before the senate finally approved President Barack Obama’s nominee, Kevin O’Malley, a lawyer from St Louis, Missouri, ending the 21-month absence of a US ambassador in Dublin, the longest period the post has been left vacant since Washington first appointed a diplomatic envoy to Ireland in 1927.
New York hotelier John Fitzpatrick, the fund’s chairman, wrote to Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader of the Senate, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader of the chamber, “on a matter of great concern to Ireland and Irish America, namely the appointment of an American ambassador to Ireland”.
“To many of us here and back in Ireland it is a matter of great bewilderment and not just a little annoyance that the post of ambassador has remained unfilled for so long. This is unprecedented in Irish-America [sic] relations,” wrote Mr Fitzpatrick.
‘Use your influence
’ The businessman said
the fund was aware the issue of the ambassador’s appointment was due to be discussed by the Senate. He urged the two Senate leaders “to use your influence to reach a successful conclusion to these discussions”.
"At a time when our trading relations are so crucial, uncertainty besets the Northern Ireland peace process and great changes are occurring in the European Union, it would be reprehensible were this pivotal post to remain open for any longer," he said in the letter, a copy of which was seen by The Irish Times.
The fund, which has raised about $500 million (€390 million) for charities and other causes on the island of Ireland, is politically one of the best-connected Irish-American groups.
Mr O’Malley, a long-time supporter of Mr Obama, was confirmed by the Senate last Thursday in a straightforward voice vote, just over two months after the White House nominated him for the job. A former federal prosecutor, he is the 27th US ambassador to Ireland.
