By Niall O’Dowd

The incoming chairman of the Friends of Ireland Group in Congress says his priorities will be making sure that the final elements of the Good Friday Agreement, are implemented and that immigration reform will happen in the new session of Congress.

The appointment of Congressman Richie Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts, was made official on Tuesday, December 19 by House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi.

In a statement Pelosi said, “Congressman Neal’s keen intellect and savvy will ensure that the people of Ireland and Irish descent will have a voice in Congress.”

In an interview with the Irish Voice, Neal stated that his priorities were to assure there would be full American involvement in getting the Northern Ireland Executive back in place. ”America has been an indispensable part of this process and our role is not over,” he stated.

On immigration reform, Neal said he was keenly aware of the problems that the native-born Irish community had on the issue.

“We have a much better opportunity now with the new Congress to reach an accord with the president on the Kennedy/McCain bill. I feel we need to move quickly as the opportunity window will close down quickly. I will be giving it high priority,” Neal said.

On the North, Neal expressed cautious optimism. “The warfare is over but we need to fasten down the final elements of the Good Friday Agreement,” he said.

“It is almost a miracle that we have come this far in this process. It is easy for day to day naysayers to pick holes, but I remember when I first became involved in this issue when I came to Congress, and it was always described as intractable. Much of the historic suspicion on both sides has now been put to rest. Now we may well have the government back up and running in March.”

Neal said he also wanted to focus on the collusion issue. “We need to pay attention to the Finucane and Nelson cases and also to the outcome of the Bloody Sunday inquiry. The families involved have a right to expect justice. They have suffered enough,” he maintains.

Neal stated that he had a good relationship with the White House on the Irish issue and that special envoy Mitchell Reiss was always “only a phone call away.”

Speaking of American involvement in general, Neal stated, “It gives me great satisfaction that many career diplomats who came to this issue started off with one point of view, but now have a far more balanced approach and are more fair minded.”

Neal, whose grandparents on his father’s side came from Banbridge, Co. Down and his great grandparents on his mother’s side were Garveys from the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry says he hopes to visit Ireland in March.

His appointment was welcomed by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern. “You bring a depth of experience and knowledge to your new role that will be deeply valued by the Irish government,” Ahern said in a statement.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said, “The success of the peace process owes much to your leadership and the continued interest of Irish America.”

Meanwhile, Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat who represents the Bronx and has been a long-time supporter of Irish issues, will be the new co-chair of the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, a bipartisan group in the House.

“I am honored to be co-chairing the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs,” said Engel. “Congress needs strong voices for the Irish Americans to show our support for the Irish peace process.”

Engel’s co-chairs are Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley of New York, and Republicans Peter King and James Walsh, also of New York.