A hearing has taken place in the United States concerning President Donald Trump's nominee for the position of US Ambassador to Ireland.
Edward Walsh was introduced to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the US President.
Mr Walsh is from New Jersey, where he runs a project management company providing services to the construction industry.
He is a member of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, one of Mr Trump’s golf resorts, where he has won the club championship - something the President has previously said makes him an ideal candidate for ambassador to Ireland.
"To our friends in Ireland, you're getting one of the closest friends President Trump has" - Senator Lindsey Graham introduces Edward 'Ed’ Walsh at a Sen Foreign Relations Cmte hearing for his nomination as US Ambassador to Ireland pic.twitter.com/VWUUnD4Bx0
— Jackie Fox (@jackiefox_) May 1, 2025
The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator James Risch, noted that Ireland has a lot of important undersea cables passing through its territorial waters, and said he expects Mr Walsh as Ambassador to press Ireland to increase defence spending to be able to protect these undersea assets.
The chairman also told Mr Walsh that Ireland’s diplomatic recognition of a state of Palestine was counterproductive, and said he must emphasise America’s strong support of the state of Israel.
The Democratic Party ranking member Senator Jeanne Shaheen said tariffs serve to undermine Irish economic stability on which the Good Friday Agreement rests.
Mr Walsh was asked how he would seek to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
In response he said it was a very important part of US diplomacy, and was a bipartisan issue which many Senators were interested in.
He pledged to keep the committee fully and promptly informed of any issues relating to the peace agreement and its operation.
'Honour' to be nominated to role
Edward Walsh said it was an honor to be nominated as Ambassador to Ireland.
He said the values that helped him build a successful construction services company, and which he learned from involvement in the non-profit sector, will guide his approach to being a US ambassador.
He particularly highlighted the economic relationship between Ireland and the US, saying: "If confirmed, I will strive to enhance this framework so it serves Americans even more effectively.
"I will work to support American enterprises and facilitate Irish investment in United States by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities for US companies, we can create a path to shared economic success and greater prosperity."
On foreign policy, he said Ireland was a close partner of the US in many shared challenges, but highlighted what he called "tensions" between Ireland and Israel.
"President Trump has made it very clear that Israel is a close ally of ours and that anti-Semitism has no room in the entire world. I look forward to working constructively engaging on the issues that contributing to the tensions between Israel and Ireland."
In his opening statement, Mr Walsh said: "The depth of our shared heritage is a testament to the enduring friendship between our nations and committed to expanding the cultural and educational changes that built the bedrock of these long-standing and enduring people-to-people connections by promoting academic collaborations, cultural initiatives and tourism, we can further strengthen the bonds of understanding and goodwill that unite us and achieve us greater things together."
Committee chairman Risch said it was heartbreaking watching Ireland - "a close ally" - make what he called a "horrible mistake" in recognising the state of Palestine.
He urged Mr Walsh to convey to Ireland how out of step with the US it is on its positions on Hamas and Palestine.
Mr Walsh said he is looking forward to getting stuck into the issue, and will be getting an in-depth briefing from the State Department on the details.
