Madam, - I refer to your recent report on US government funding for projects supported by the International Fund for Ireland. In supporting projects, the IFI has always sought to maintain the highest standards in the pursuit of our dual mission: the promotion of economic and social advance and the encouragement of contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists on the island of Ireland.
The disbursement of funds by the IFI is subject to rigorous control by Irish and British Government offices and is closely monitored by the EU, the US and other sponsoring governments. Each project must be approved by the fund's independent board. Expenditures have been audited by the EU Court of Auditors and by USAID. KPMG have reported positively on the fund's expenditures and Price Waterhouse Coopers audit IFI's finances each year.
While scrutiny of public expenditure is a serious and proper matter, it is regrettable that the report on the US website entitled "Citizens Against Government Waste" (CAGW), alleging wasteful expenditure, is ill-informed and inaccurate in its references to the IFI.
The reference to the Jeanie Johnston is just one example of such inaccuracy. For the record, the fund did not build a replica famine ship as stated by CAGW. However, the Jeanie Johnston did facilitate the fund's reconciliation and training work with groups of young Catholics and Protestants from North and South. They participated in the construction of the vessel and more recently in sail training on its voyage to the US. It is one of a range of fund projects involving young people from predominantly disadvantaged areas.
The fund has excellent relations with all of its donors, namely the US, the EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Each donor country has an official observer to the fund. The observers attend board meetings and have consistently endorsed fund initiatives. US government representatives and congressional leaders take an active interest in the fund and visit our projects regularly to see this work at first hand.
Thanks to the support of the US and our other donors, the IFI is committed to continuing its work of addressing need, advancing reconciliation and thereby supporting and consolidating the peace process at this critical time. - Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM McCARTER,
Chairman,
International Fund for Ireland,
Dublin 2.