Print

The Irish National Caucus Foundation  Neither Democrat nor Republican

"No... U.S. initiative... [on Northern Ireland] would have came about had it not been for the activities of the Irish National Caucus."                         -- Sunday News (Belfast)  "Never before has the question of peace and justice in Ireland become such a subject of concern within the U.S. Congress.   The heightened interest is due almost solely to the efforts of the Irish National Caucus.   The expertise of INC leaders in Washington and their tireless work in the halls of Congress is a source of pride for all Americans seeking a lasting peace in Ireland."   -- The Congressional  Committee for Irish Affairs  OUTSTANDING RECORD             The Irish National Caucus initiated the formation of the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee for Irish Affairs, which over 100 Members of Congress have joined.  "Perhaps the Caucus' boldest success has been its efforts to create . . . the Committee for Irish Affairs."                         --The New York Times              The Irish National Caucus with the backing of the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee for Irish Affairs, stopped the sale of U.S. weapons to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (R.U.C.) in Northern Ireland. "High among the concerns of the Irish National Caucus is human rights in Northern Ireland.  When members protested the issuance of a license to ship guns and magnum pistols to Ulster police, the shipments ceased."                         --U.S. News and World Report  THE MacBRIDE PRINCIPLES             The Irish National Caucus in 1984 initiated, proposed, and launched the MacBride Principles -- a fair employment code of conduct for U.S. companies doing business in Northern Ireland.              Named after the late, great Sean MacBride of Ireland, the Principles have already proven to be the most effective campaign ever against anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland.  The Principles --which do not call for disinvestment, quotas or reverse discrimination -- became U.S. law in October 1998.  "We did not take him [Irish National Caucus President Father Sean McManus] very seriously at first but the MacBride Principles have caused serious problems and cost millions to try to counteract." -- Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland, Sunday Life  (Belfast)  "The MacBride campaign, directed by the Irish National Caucus, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group, has won the support of the AFL-CIO and of several religious institutional shareholders including several Catholic orders and several major Protestant denominations."                         --The Wall Street Journal  "[My father, Sean MacBride] will never be forgotten while the Principles drawn up by the Irish National Caucus are named after him."                         --Tiernan MacBride  "The fanfare of publicity about  new and tougher action against job discrimination, for example, is designed,  at least in part,  to  help the British  Government to  counter  the  extremely  effective campaign  on  the  MacBride Principles  which is being waged by the Irish National  Caucus  in the United States."                         --The Irish Times (Dublin)  "I want to make a special note regarding Father Sean McManus.   No one has fought harder against discrimination in Northern Ireland.  Father Sean single-handedly brought the MacBride fair employment principles to . . . enactment." --Congressman Ben Gilman, Chairman of the House  International Relations Committee             FATHER SEAN McMANUS  Irish National Caucus President, Father Sean McManus, is a native of Kinawley, County Fermanagh -- one of the 6 Counties in Northern Ireland. He came to the U.S. on October 2 1972 and founded the Irish National Caucus on February 6 1974.  On International Human Rights Day, December 10 1978, the Caucus opened its headquarters on Capitol Hill.              Fr. McManus has dedicated his life to the non-violent struggle for human rights, justice, and peace in Ireland.  His deep knowledge of the problem in Northern Ireland is matched only by his desire to find a solution.             Fr. McManus has an unequaled record of working on Capitol Hill on the Irish issue.  He has built up enormous good will for the Irish cause and is highly respected for the nonpartisan way he has pursued his mission.