Strong Report Language Attached to International Fund for Ireland

Posted By: March 29, 2013

Washington, D.C., October 27, 1995 — The House and Senate Conference has attached strong language to the $19.6 MILLION contribution to the International Fund for Ireland (I.F.I.) for Fiscal Year 1996 in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Conference Report. The Report says:

“The conferees strongly urge the International Fund for Ireland to take every step possible to ensure that all recipients of Fund support are promoting equality of opportunity and non-discrimination in employment.”

“This is a major victory,” said Father Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus. “It is the result of intensive lobbying by Congressional groups and Irish-American groups. Congressman Ben Gilman, Chair of the House International Relations Committee, along with Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) led the Congressional effort and all the major Irish groups led the Irish-American effort.”
“Significantly, both the House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole lent their names to the effort. Irish-Americans greatly appreciate their efforts on the behalf of fairness and equality in Northern Ireland,” said Fr. McManus. The Campaign succeeded despite vigorous opposition from both the British Government and the U.S. State Department.
“Now, of course, what really matters is getting Congressman Gilman’s Bill H.R. 1561 (which contains legislation attaching the MacBride Principles to the I.F.I.) passed into law. The Conference Report now goes back to the House and Senate for a vote,” he explained.
“Equality and non-discrimination must be at the very core of the Northern Ireland solution,” said Fr. McManus. “This latest effort will greatly help to promote that solution,” he added.