THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
             (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                       July 7, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Job Training Program for Ireland

The President welcomed today's announcement in Northern Ireland of a U.S. training program for young adult residents of Northern Ireland and the counties of Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Longford and Leitrim in Ireland. The program was developed in connection with the "Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998," which the President signed last October. It also has the active involvement of the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The program will make an important and timely contribution to spreading the benefits of globalization and economic prosperity to disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Coming in the context of Northern Ireland's historic peace effort, the new program will shortly provide young unemployed persons aged 18-35 an opportunity to come to the United States to develop and enhance their job skills and improve their prospects for employment in their home countries. We anticipate that a wide range of job training opportunities, and associated cultural programs, will be available across the United States, especially in those areas and economic sectors with existing trade and investment links to Ireland and Northern Ireland. Upon returning home, the participants will receive assistance in finding jobs in their fields.

The President has expressed his appreciation to Congressman James T. Walsh for his leadership in helping to establish this program.

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