Ambassador to Ireland nominee before US Senate hearing | Breaking News & Latest Ireland Updates

Ambassador to Ireland nominee before US Senate hearing — Washington Correspondent A hearing is under way in the United States concerning President Trump's nominee for the position of US Ambassador to Ireland...

Washington Correspondent

A hearing is under way in the United States concerning President 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 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 Bedminster, one of Mr Trump’s golf resorts, where he has won the club championship - something thePresident said makes him an ideal candidatefor 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 Irelandpic.twitter.com/VWUUnD4Bx0

The chairman of the foreign relations Committe, 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.

More to follow.....