style="text-align: left;">Congressman Richard Neal praised the incredible work and achievements of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) over the past 21 years at a reception following the presentation of a history of the Fund to members of Congress which took place this week.

Speaking at the reception on Capitol Hill, Congressman Neal noted that “As Chairman of the Friends of Ireland in the United States House of Representatives, I know how essential the Fund has been in the effort to bring peace and reconciliation to the island of Ireland. I have seen first-hand how its work has helped improve people’s lives while working to build a shared future for all. I congratulate Chairman Rooney for his leadership, and pledge my continued support in Congress for this very important programme.”

The reception, at which the book “A Fund of Goodwill – The Story of the International Fund for Ireland”, by award-winning author Alf McCreary, was presented to members of Congress, was jointly hosted by the Embassy of Ireland to the United States and the Northern Ireland Bureau, and was attended by representatives from the US Congress, US government agencies and members of the Irish Community.

“A Fund of Goodwill” documents the IFI’s history from its inception in 1986, as well as focusing on some of its specific interventions, showing the human impact of its work. The book records the Fund’s work in promoting peace-building and delivering on its initial aims of promoting contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists on the island of Ireland and economic and social advance.

Speaking at the reception, Denis Rooney, the Chairman of the IFI, paid tribute to the support of the US over many years: “The people who conceived the idea of an International Fund for Ireland – including Presidents Carter and Reagan, together with Speaker Tip O’Neill and Senator Ted Kennedy, demonstrated enormous courage and great vision. Our friends in Congress from both sides of the aisle, including former Congressman Jim Walsh and others, believed - when all the signs were to the contrary - that an instrument such as the IFI could not alone help to ameliorate some of the social and economic consequences of the conflict, but could also itself be a catalyst for overcoming division between communities and healing at the level of the individual.”

He continued, “Today, the situation that prompted the creation of the IFI is transformed. Enormous progress has been made and peace has come to a troubled land. The futile, pointless, murder of two soldiers and a constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in recent days is a stark reminder of that ugly, barren place to which we must never allow ourselves to return.”

The United States has been a donor to the Fund since its inception and has been a strong supporter of the Fund in the pursuit of its objectives. To date the U.S. has pledged over $514 million to the IFI, with funding for 2008 amounting to $14.865 million.

The event follows a reception on Tuesday afternoon on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, at which “A Fund of Goodwill” was presented to Canadian Parliamentarians. Speaking at that reception, the Chairman of the Canada Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. James Rajotte, MP, remarked that “Canada has always been a strong supporter of the IFI, and is proud to be associated with the remarkable impact the Fund has had in support of peace and reconciliation in Ireland and, ultimately, in the success of the peace process in Northern Ireland.” 

Since 1987, Canada has contributed CAN$7.817m to the Fund, with its contributions targeted specifically at the training of young people. It is the principle destination for trainees in the Wider Horizons Programme, which aims to improve the employability of disadvantaged young people aged 18 to 28 through training, work experience and personal development at home and abroad.