Monthly Archives: September 2012

Questions raised about expenditures by organization headed by Trina Vargo

The Alliance has created much controversy with the amount of funding they have received from the Irish government among others to send 12 students known as Mitchell Scholars annually to Ireland. Vargo, a former staffer for Senator Edward Kennedy has previously refused to appear before the committee.

The Alliance has also clashed with groups in the Irish American community over its opposition to efforts to legalize the undocumented Irish and its assertion that the community is in decline.

The group, led by Senator Mark Daly, stated in a letter to Vargo that “this country owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Senator George Mitchell. His commitment to the Good Friday Agreement is responsible, in a large part, for the peace we enjoy on this island today. The Mitchell scholarship programme is a fitting and appropriate tribute to his legacy in Ireland.

“However, the future of the Mitchell scholar programme is in doubt, due to the initial withdrawal of funding and the subsequent indication of partial funding by the US state department. The Mitchell Scholar Act legislates for Ireland to contribute 20 million euros over time to the fund but without adequate US funding the future of the programme is uncertain.

“According to the most recent set of accounts, it costs $1 million annually to run the scholars programme, yet it appears that the 12 scholars cost the programme just €22,000 each per annum. Given Ireland’s current financial situation, it would be appropriate that a complete audit should occur carried out by the controller and auditor general – to determine are we getting value and is the program being run correctly. With the same amount of annual funding invested in the program but cutting administration costs, including the president of the Alliance €175,000 salary, it would be possible for some scholars form Ireland to go to the United States which is currently not the case. It is clear that Ireland needs to get better value for its contribution

“Despite numerous requests since March the Foreign Affairs Committee have been unsuccessful in getting a clear indication of a date when the president of the US Ireland Alliance Ms Trina Vargo or any member of the board would be willing to come before it to answer questions. In a time of such budgetary pressure in Ireland we believe that any organisation that will receive a total of 20 million euro of exchequer funds should be prepared to come before a committee of the Oireachtas, to explain how  Irish tax payers money is being spent. It is the least that the Irish people deserve.”

The letter is signed  by Senator Mark Daly, Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan, Deputy Sean Crowe , Senator Lorraine Higgins, Deputy Gerard Nash , Senator Michael Mulliins, and Senator Jim Walsh.

There has been a worrying development from Europe.  The German Foreign Minister is calling for the creation of a European army and that the President of the European Commission should make direct appointments to a European government.  I call for a debate in respect of Ireland’s traditional position of neutrality and for a strong statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the effect that we are not in favour of the creation of a European federal army with the provision – this is the worrying thing from the German Foreign Minister – that no one country could block a common initiative.  That is a serious statement by any German Minister.

Senator Mark Daly:   I presume the German Minister is trying to imply that if Europe decided to go to war one country could not stop it.  It is bizarre stuff, I agree with Senator Whelan.  Coming from the German Minister I need say no more than that we should be slightly concerned that this has been reported.  The fact that a German Minister wants to create a European army and that a veto would not be a part of that is a matter of concern.  There should be unanimous agreement if a European army were to be deployed.  Obviously, I am against the whole concept of a European army but the fact that this is their new mindset must be of concern to everyone in the House.  I call on the Leader to organise a debate on Ireland’s traditional position of neutrality and on the comments by the German Foreign Minister.

This country owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Senator George Mitchell. His commitment to the Good Friday Agreement is responsible, in a large part, for the peace we enjoy on this island today. The Mitchell scholarship programme is a fitting and appropriate tribute to his legacy in Ireland.

However the future of the Mitchell scholar programme is in doubt, due to the initial withdrawal of funding and subsequent indication of partial funding by the US state department.  The Mitchell Scholar Act legislates for Ireland to contribute 20 million euros over time to the fund but without adequate US funding the future of the programme is uncertain.

According to the most recent set of accounts it cost $1 million annually to run the scholars programme, yet it appears that the 12 scholars costs the programme just €22,000 each per annum. Given Ireland’s current financial situation it would be appropriate that a complete audit should occur carried out by the controller and auditor general – to determine are we getting value and is the program being run correctly. With the same amount of annual funding invested in the program but cutting administration costs, including the president of the Alliance €175,000 salary, it would be possible for some scholars form Ireland to go to the United States which is currently not the case. It is clear that Ireland needs to get better value for its contribution

Despite numerous requests since March the Foreign Affairs Committee have been unsuccessful in getting a clear indication of a date when the president of the US Ireland Alliance Ms Trina Vargo or any member of the board would be willing to come before it to answer questions. In a time of such budgetary pressure in Ireland we believe that any organisation that will receive a total of 20 million euro of exchequer funds should be prepared to come before a committee of the Oireachtas, to explain how  Irish tax payers money is being spent. It is the least that the Irish people deserve.