The state Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee recently advanced bipartisan legislation that would establish an Ireland Trade Commission.
Senate Bill 1121 would create the Ireland Trade Commission, which would strengthen educational, economic, governmental, and personal links between Pennsylvania and Ireland.
Approximately 16 percent of the state’s population is of Irish descent.
State Sens. Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne), Tim Kearney (D-Delaware County) and Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny County) sponsored the bill. They also are co-chairmen of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus.
“This initiative will deepen our economic ties with Ireland, offering a stronger partnership that reflects our shared heritage,” Flynn said.
“This legislation will significantly boost trade and ties between Pennsylvania and Ireland, the only English-speaking country in the European Union, and help promote growth for our businesses and jobs while enhancing our cultural bonds with the ancestral homeland of so many Pennsylvanians,” Kearney said.
“This commission will enhance the strong ties between Pennsylvania and Ireland, creating significant opportunities for educational, economic and cultural exchanges,” Robinson said. “Ireland is a crucial launchpad for U.S. expansion into the European market, and this initiative will foster mutual trade investment and collaboration, benefiting both regions immensely.”
The bill now moves to the full Senate floor for consideration.