Kennedy 'optimistic' over Stormont's future

The US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III has said he is “more optimistic by the day” about devolution’s future.

Kennedy was appointed to the role by President Biden two years ago, when devolution in Northern Ireland was suspended.

He made the remarks on his final visit to Northern Ireland, ahead of Donald Trump taking office in January.

Kennedy urged Trump, who won the US Presidential election last week, not to engage in policies of “isolationism and protectionism”.

He was speaking at a conference at Queen’s University, Belfast on Thursday.

“My tenure is coming to an end, I don’t know what the next few months hold for the United States… but our continued prosperity depends on partnership… not isolation and protectionism.”

Asked about those remarks later, Kennedy said he wished the next administration well.

“I respect deeply our democratic process and the results… what I’d point out is that allies matter, alliances matter - we see value of that particularly in a place like Northern Ireland.”

Kennedy was appointed as the United States special envoy to Northern Ireland by President Joe Biden in December of 2022.

His brief was to focus on economic development and closer ties.

Since his appointment, Kennedy has made 10 visits to Northern Ireland.

With the advent of a new administration in the US, his current trip is to be his last.

On Wednesday, Kennedy was awarded honorary doctorates from both Queen's and Ulster universities, at a joint ceremony held at Stormont.

The outgoing special envoy is part of one of the most famous families in American politics, being the grandson of presidential candidate Robert Kennedy and great nephew of US President John F Kennedy.

Kennedy himself served as the US representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021.

The post of special envoy to Northern Ireland had been vacant for most of Donald Trump’s first term in office, after Mick Mulvaney quit in January 2021 having served less than a year during the first Trump administration.

On Thursday, Kennedy said he hoped the next Trump government would see value in appointing someone to the role.

He said he had “no reason” to believe that Trump would not uphold links to the Good Friday Agreement.

Asked about the prospect of stability at Stormont he said: “Am I concerned? I’ve got concerns about the ability of our own US government to be fully functioning.

“I have confidence that the people of Northern Ireland have seen the progress that has been made with institutions up and running.

“I remain more optimistic by the day what the people of Northern Ireland are building... momentum continues to build.”