ENGEL TO TAKE LEAD ON IRISH ISSUES; December 19, 2006

Tuesday December 19, 2006 Rebecca Gale; 202 225 2464

ENGEL TO TAKE LEAD ON IRISH ISSUES
Elevated to Co-chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs

Washington, D.C.— Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) will be the co-chair of the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, a bipartisan group of Representatives who work to foster the Irish Peace Process by acting as the voice of Irish-America in Congress.

“I am honored to be co-chairing the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs,” said Rep. Engel. “Congress needs strong voices for the Irish-Americans to show our support for the Irish peace process. As a Member of the House International Relations Committee subcommittee of Europe, and a longtime supporter of the Irish community in New York, I will continue to promote peace and reconciliation in the north of Ireland.  The Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs has been a valuable tool in educating other Members of Congress about Irish affairs, and I am proud to co-chair this Committee in the 110th Congress,” said Engel.

Engel will co-chair this bipartisan committee with Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Rep. James Walsh (R-NY).

“Congressman Eliot Engel has time after time demonstrated his commitment to the issues important to Irish Americans and pushing forward the Good Friday Agreement and the evolving peace process.  We welcome him as co-chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs.  He has proven his dedication and will shine in this important leadership role,” said Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens & the Bronx), co-chair of the committee.
 
During his years in Congress, Rep. Engel has been a champion of Irish causes.  He wrote successful legislation requiring that recipients of U.S. funds through the International Fund for Ireland comply with the MacBride Principles (which oppose religious-based discrimination in employment and job-training).  He has also fought vigorously against the deportation of Irish nationals, most recently Malachy MacAllister.
 

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