Concern at 'inappropriate' invitation issued to Joe Kennedy III by Magee Taskforce

Derry City and Strabane District Council have voted to write to the Magee Taskforce expressing their concern at the inappropriate invitation issued to Joe Kennedy III. 

At a full council meeting on Wednesday, June 26, People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin proposed writing to the chair of the Magee Taskforce, Stephen Kelly.

The Ulster University Magee Taskforce was launched in March 2024 to develop and oversee an action plan to expand Ulster University’s Magee campus to 10,000 students. 

Mr. Kennedy is part of United States President Biden’s Administration Special Envoy for Economic Affairs, and he was invited to discuss the further education provision in Derry.

Cllr. Harkin said: “I think it was very inappropriate for the Magee Taskforce to invite the special envoy as a representative for President Biden.

“This was a meeting to talk about the expansion of further education in Derry.

“He is a representative (of Biden’s administration), and it is killing thousands of students in Gaza.

“American bombs have been used by the Israelis to bomb every university and school in Gaza. They have killed students, future students, and faculty that are part of those institutions.” 

Cllr. Harkin said that the decision to invite Mr. Kennedy was inappropriate due to his involvement in Biden’s administration's support of Israel and their actions towards student demonstrations across American college campuses in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Sinn Fein Councillor Christopher Jackson supported the motion. 

He said: “The expansion of the university is key to this city and district, and we have every confidence in the Taskforce. 

“We all have a responsibility to be a voice for peace and to be a voice for the people being silenced in Gaza on a daily basis. 

“The invitation to Joe Kennedy on this occasion from our perspective was inappropriate; I think it was misinformed, and it is only right as a council we raise our concerns with the chair.”

Cllr. Jackson said pressure must be continued, particularly on the US administration, to bring an end to the conflict. 

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly visited the White House on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2024.

Ms. O'Neill, at the time, said she had relayed the need for an immediate ceasefire, but she received criticism from many within Ireland for accepting the invitation to the White House. 

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney reminded the council of this as he supported the proposal. 

Mr. Tierney said: “The most important thing we can do, in my view what is going on around Gaza and across the Middle East is to call for peace and use whatever influence we have.

“If that means we reject the invitation to Joe Kennedy by the Taskforce, then we should. 

“I have heard the words ‘inappropriate’ and 'misinformed’ when talking about the taskforce when giving an invitation to Joe Kennedy III to attend a meeting in Magee by Sinn Fein. I wonder if it was inappropriate and misinformed to accept an invitation to attend a meeting with Joe Biden, or has that position changed?”