The new US ambassador to Ireland is likely to be Mr Richard Egan, a
US business man who has strong links with Ireland, according to pressreports in the US.
President George W Bush is set to nominate the billionaire whosecompany EMC, a computer storage businessMr Egan started inhis garage and built it into a multi-billion pound corporation. Itwas one of the biggest high-tech success stories in the country inrecent years.
Mr Egan, who was a major fund-raiser for President Bush'spresidential campaign, will be formally chosen over the next severalweeks, pending final background checks, the Boston Heraldreportedtoday.
The Boston Globe, quoting an unnamed Senate source, said MrEgan has a leg up on other potential candidates for the position."It looks good for him," the source said.
Mr Egan has no diplomatic or political experience but is well knownin Irish business and political circles, and is expected to be apopular choice in both nations.
Through his company, Mr Egan has played a highly active rolepromoting business investment in Ireland.
EMC Corporation operates a major manufacturing plant with hundreds ofemployees in Cork, most of whom make data storage devices forinternational customers. The company also has sales offices in Dublinand in Northern Ireland.
"He is someone who would represent American interests with greatskill, integrity and intelligence," a source told the Herald.
The original front-runner for the ambassadorship to Ireland wasformer Republican National Committee chairman Mr Jim Nicholson.However, Mr Nicholson is now expected to be offered theambassadorship to the Vatican.