At a time of heightened concerns over renewed sectarian conflict, the Biden administration has appointed Joe Kennedy III, the grandnephew of the nation’s first Irish Catholic president, as liaison to Northern Ireland.
“Today we are announcing the appointment of Joe Kennedy III as the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs. In this capacity, he will focus on advancing economic development and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland to the benefit of all communities as well as strengthening people-to-people ties between the United States and Northern Ireland,” the State Department said in a Monday release.
The appointment of Kennedy, a former Massachusetts congressman, comes following the 2020 withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union’s trade zone and the 2021 establishment of a customs agreement being called the Northern Ireland Protocols.
That agreement, almost two years after its ratification, has not allayed the fears of political watchers and historians alike, who expressed concern well before the Brexit vote at the idea of a reestablished hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the potential for a return to the sectarian violence of the past.
The decadeslong and bloody conflict known as The Troubles, which gripped both sides of the border from the late '60s until 1998, when a peace accord was struck, are clearly top of mind at the State Department, which directly mentioned the late '90s agreement in Kennedy’s appointment announcement.
“His role builds on the long-standing U.S. commitment to supporting peace, prosperity, and stability in Northern Ireland and the peace dividends of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,” the State Department said in the release.
Previously seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, the former Cape Cod representative’s diplomatic appointment effectively answers a long-standing question over the political prospects remaining to the scion of the once powerful Kennedy family, whose public career seemed to have all but ended early following his defeat during 2020 Democratic primary against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey.
The grandson of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the Stanford graduate and Harvard lawyer has the experience and brains for the job, according to the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin, who praised his appointment Monday on Twitter and in an official statement.
“Joe Kennedy is an extraordinary public servant, and I know he will work tirelessly in this role increasing investment and economic growth in Northern Ireland, as well as strengthening people-to-people ties between all communities in Northern Ireland and the United States,” Cronin wrote.
Kennedy wrote on Twitter that the appointment is an “incredible honor.”
“Look (forward) to working with the Biden Admin to reaffirm US commitment to Northern Ireland and to promote economic prosperity and opportunity for all its people,” Kennedy wrote.
———
