The outgoing US special envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III speaks to the News Letter on his last visit to the province. Video taken by Ben Lowry, editor of the Belfast News Letter, on Wednesday November 13 2024 at the Marriott hotel on the River Lagan
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00:00So we're standing here in the in the port Belfast looking out towards the
00:04Irish Sea. A lot of unionists are very concerned about the fact that there is
00:08an internal UK barrier and although you've made efforts, great efforts, to not
00:12be partisan they would nonetheless feel that an American wouldn't tolerate such
00:17an internal barrier and I wonder what you think about that over the years.
00:20Look, I think the issue is trying to resolve a border between the Irish Sea,
00:27between mainland United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. It's something that is
00:32going to need and necessitate consistent effort and consistent engagement
00:36obviously not just not only with Westminster and the British government
00:40but engagement with Irish government and the extent to which the United States
00:45can play a constructive role there and make sure that legitimate concerns here
00:49which aren't legitimate are addressed while preserving the nuances that
00:56characterize the unique aspects of this island. That is a huge part of the work
01:02going forward and so in continuing to engage in that work is I think a
01:05critical role that the United States can hopefully continue to play and engaging
01:09with British, Irish and EU countries. I'm sorry and I just was going to say and
01:14an emotional level you understand those concerns. Of course, of course and look
01:20when I explain issues around the consequence of Brexit and the fallout of
01:26it to folks back in the United States and talk about the challenges that some
01:32might have by saying you know goods going between New York and Massachusetts
01:36would have to go through checks in Connecticut. People say well that's weird.
01:40That being said there's obviously nuances to what makes this island the
01:46special place that it is and so engaging those concerns that are brought up in
01:50good faith by not just the unionist community but people on Northern Ireland
01:55to try to address those is the work going forward and it doesn't mean you
02:00folks are going to get it right and solve every challenge the first time
02:02through but it's that continued engagement which is going to be what is
02:05needed and necessary.