[ad_1]
The new United States special envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, took office.
Mulvaney, a former acting White House chief of staff, told RTÉ News that he officially became envoy in recent days after a virtual swearing-in ceremony via FaceTime.
“I was sworn in on Friday and immediately began burying myself in the background work that comes with the job. The State Department, as well as the people of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and London, have sent me material to read.” Mulvaney said.
United States President Donald Trump announced in early March that he was appointing Mulvaney to the position of the United States’ special envoy to Northern Ireland, a position that had been vacant since Trump took office.
Mulvaney is an Irish-American with family roots in Co Mayo.
He was replaced in the role of White House Chief of Staff by Republican Congressman Mark Meadows.
“I spent quite a bit of time in March helping my successor Mark Meadows, who is a good friend of mine. Mark and I are very close and I recommended him for the position to the president. It was very interesting to make sure he made a successful transition,” said Mulvaney. .
“Over the course of the past two weeks, I returned to South Carolina because I was no longer considered essential in Washington. I have spent the past few days rushing into the position of Envoy and it has been a lot of fun.” “
Mulvaney hoped to make his first trip to Northern Ireland as an Envoy in May, but is now unlikely due to Covid-19’s travel restrictions.
“I’m doing what I can via email. I was hoping there might be exceptions to the travel restrictions for diplomatic purposes, but that doesn’t seem to work. I’m told that July 1 may be the first opportunity, but as soon As the country is open, I will be there as long as necessary, “he said.
The pandemic has not only disrupted Mulvaney’s plans to visit Belfast, but has also focused him more on the possible economic impact of the outbreak in Northern Ireland.
“The economy and prosperity are at the center of many of the problems affecting Northern Ireland and that will focus more on the bottom of the coronavirus crisis,” he added.
“Obtaining economic opportunities in Northern Ireland will be even more important than before.”
Read more: Due North: Trump’s new envoy for Northern Ireland
[ad_2]