Former US president Bill Clinton. AP
Former US president Bill Clinton. AP
Former US president Bill Clinton. AP
Former US president Bill Clinton. AP

Bill Clinton and Gerry Adams to reflect on Good Friday Agreement at New York event


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Former US president Bill Clinton and former leader of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams will reflect on the historic Good Friday Agreement peace deal for Northern Ireland in a New York event to mark its 25th anniversary.

Mr Adams and Mr Clinton are set to take part in the event next month, which is being organised by Irish-American organisations.

Irish America has been consistent in its support of the pact, also known as the Belfast Agreement, event co-ordinator Marty Glennon said.

“Twenty-five years ago, Irish America united in the pursuit of peace and justice," Mr Glennon said. "The Good Friday Agreement was signed and a new chapter in Irish history was written.

“Irish America has been steadfast in their support of the agreement and peace.

“We look back with pride, and we look to the future with optimism and hope that we realise fully the promise of the agreement.”

Among the organisations taking part are the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the James Connolly Irish-American Labour Coalition, the Brehon Law Society and Friends of Sinn Fein.

“Irish-American trade unionists stand on the shoulders of a great generation of labour leaders, who contributed mightily towards peace and justice in the north of Ireland," LAOH president Marilyn Madigan said.

“We celebrate the 25th anniversary of the GFA and look forward to its full realisation, a reunited 32-county Irish Republic.”

UK and EU strike post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland - in pictures

  • Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, hold a joint news conference on a post-Brexit deal, in Windsor. Bloomberg
    Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, hold a joint news conference on a post-Brexit deal, in Windsor. Bloomberg
  • Britain and the EU agreed to an overhaul of trade rules in Northern Ireland, a breakthrough aimed at resetting strained relations since Brexit. AFP
    Britain and the EU agreed to an overhaul of trade rules in Northern Ireland, a breakthrough aimed at resetting strained relations since Brexit. AFP
  • Britain's King Charles III receives Ms von der Leyen during an audience at Windsor Castle. PA
    Britain's King Charles III receives Ms von der Leyen during an audience at Windsor Castle. PA
  • Anti-Brexit campaigners protest outside Downing Street in London. EPA
    Anti-Brexit campaigners protest outside Downing Street in London. EPA
  • Mr Sunak and Ms von der Leyen hold talks in Windsor. Photo: No 10 Downing Street
    Mr Sunak and Ms von der Leyen hold talks in Windsor. Photo: No 10 Downing Street
  • Mr Sunak greets Ms von der Leyen at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel, where the meeting was held. AFP
    Mr Sunak greets Ms von der Leyen at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel, where the meeting was held. AFP
  • Mr Sunak and Ms von der Leyen make their way into the hotel. PA
    Mr Sunak and Ms von der Leyen make their way into the hotel. PA
  • The Prime Minister arrives in Windsor. PA
    The Prime Minister arrives in Windsor. PA
  • Government cars arrive at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel. PA
    Government cars arrive at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel. PA

“The Good Friday Agreement is a shining example of what can be accomplished if all parties truly share a desire for peace," said Cathy Stanton, president of the Brehon Law Society in Nassau County.

"But the desire for peace is not enough,. The agreement is a reminder of what still needs to be done to truly realise the dream for a united Ireland.”

Mark Guilfoyle, Friends of Sinn Fein president, said: “We look back with pride to the events of April 1998 and to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

"Ireland is changing, and the agreement endures as we navigate a peaceful and democratic pathway to a new and united Ireland.

“Irish Americans will remain in lockstep with the wishes of the people of Ireland.”

The event will take place in New York on April 3. Tickets are free, but registration is required.

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

UK’s AI plan
  • AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
  • £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
  • £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
  • £250m to train new AI models
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Updated: March 14, 2023, 9:07 PM