OR names members of IRE Sister State panel
It's Oregon's turn
On its own, the creation of the Oregon-Ireland Sister State Committee isn’t front page news. Seven citizens meeting twice a year to devise ways to enhance the relationship with the land of our ancestors is a swell idea, but there are more important stories out of Salem these days.
What makes this news fit for the back pages though, is the fact that Oregon is not the only state Ireland is formalizing ties with; Dublin is stepping up state by state to make more friends in America. In just the last two years, multiple legislatures have been debating and often passing laws to codify a relationship with Ireland. Legislatures in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and a dozen other states are on board with this Irish charm offensive. Nebraska lawmakers took up a bill last week. No other European nation can match this effort.
Uncertainty may be the word of the year for trade between nations, but Ireland is betting on this outreach to individual states to navigate treacherous economic waters. Its message to Oregon businesses large and small is that Ireland is a gateway to the European Union, with access to approximately 500 consumers in 27 countries. And importantly, English is spoken in Ireland, unlike in the other major EU nations.
Whether these collaborations are called Ireland Sister States or Ireland Trade Commissions, they have the same goal: Increase business between individual states and Ireland. But that’s not their only job. Working together on educational and cultural exchanges and the two-way promotion of tourism are also objectives.
Mark Daly - chair of the Senate of Ireland. "Politics and diplomacy is like American football — it’s a contact sport and you put people in the room, and that’s how you create ideas and new opportunities."
Politics. The art of the possible.
The idea for forming these alliances in America came from Senator Mark Daly, a member of the Fianna Fail party. After meeting in Dublin with lawmakers from various states in 2022, he had the American Irish State Legislators Caucus draft model legislation The rest is legislative history. Oregon’s version of the law emerged after Senate President Rob Wagner and Senator James Manning made a trip to Ireland a couple of years ago.
There's currently no agenda for the Committee in Oregon. The Senate still has to approve the appointed members. But, theoretical projects for the Oregon Ireland Sister State Committee could be finding a Sister City in Ireland for Greater Portland, convincing Aer Lingus to serve PDX with non-stop flights to Dublin, promoting Oregon’s traditional Irish music scene or even launching a PDX Irish Film festival.
The members of the Committee are......
Here are Governor Tina Kotek’s appointments to the first Oregon-Ireland Sister State Committee.
Brian Doherty – One of the key movers behind SB 961, which created the Committee. Brian, a retired attorney, was also instrumental in bringing the Hibernian High Cross to Mt. Calvary.
Marco Oswald – US Army. Ret. Resident of Sweet Home.
Mark Weiner – Portland political consultant. His wfe Aisling Coghlan was born in Ireland. She's Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's Chief of Staff.
Gay Maher – President Irish Network Portland. Realtor.
John Seymour – Representing Rural / Agricultural interests
David Stone – Associate Dean of International Programs at Oregon State University
According to Brandy Martinez in Kotek's office, “The Governor has one more appointment to make, we are still seeking applicants for the business / trade representative. I’m hoping we can have someone appointed to that seat by early March.”
It’s expected that the Committee will elect a Chair and Vice Chair when it meets.
There will be an expanded version of ths story in the PDX Hibernian Independent, which you'll receive Thursday, Jan. 29.