Ex-Rep. Joe Kennedy III named envoy to Northern Ireland
The Biden administration has named former Rep. Joe Kennedy III as America's special envoy to Northern Ireland
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Biden administration named former Rep. Joe Kennedy III as a special envoy to Northern Ireland on Monday, turning to a member of a storied Irish American political dynasty to deal with post-Brexit economic tensions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Kennedy’s appointment as economic affairs envoy to Northern Ireland. Kennedy “will be instrumental to ensuring deeper U.S. support for economic growth in Northern Ireland to benefit everyone,” Blinken tweeted.
Kennedy, 42, is a former congressman who lost a 2020 Democratic primary race against Massachusetts’s incumbent Sen. Ed Markey. Kennedy is the grandson of Robert Kennedy, who served as U.S. attorney general and senator and was the brother of President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy’s assignment as special envoy, focusing on the economy, is narrower than that of former special envoy for Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney. An appointee of President Donald Trump, Mulvaney quit following the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, and the post has remained vacant.
Britain’s exit from the European Union greatly complicated trade and economic matters for and through Northern Ireland. That’s because Northern Ireland shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, which remains in the EU.
U.S. diplomats have worked to soothe relations between the United Kingdom and EU in the matter. That includes publicly urging the two not to let post-Brexit rows on matters related to Northern Ireland undermine their alliance in a greater global crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, Blinken made clear other diplomats besides Kennedy would deal with resolving the underlying EU-United Kingdom disputes. “U.S. diplomats in Europe and Washington will continue to engage with political leaders” on those matters, Blinken wrote.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.