Assemblywoman Murphy Presents Irish Delegation with Signed Copy of Bill to Support New Jersey-Ireland Partnership
(TRENTON) – Building on New Jersey’s growing partnership with Ireland, a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy to create a New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of State was signed into law on Wednesday. The commission will be tasked with furthering the trade relationship between our state and Ireland, ensuring both are able to economically flourish.
“It’s a pleasure to be joined by a fellow Murphy today as we put pen to paper and officially establish the New Jersey-Ireland Trade Commission,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “New Jersey and Ireland share a deep-rooted foundation in innovation, life sciences, green energy, and academia and together with this Commission we will see advances in these high-growth sectors that will benefit generations to come.”
Last year, Governor Murphy led an economic mission trip to Ireland. The mission focused on deepening economic ties between Ireland and New Jersey, promoting investment opportunities in the Garden State, and strengthening educational and cultural ties between New Jersey and Ireland.
“New Jersey’s long, rich relationship with Ireland has paid dividends in our culture and our commerce,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “This new Trade Commission will lead to further cooperation and innovation with one of Europe’s strongest performing economies.”
Under the law (formerly bill A4055), the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of State would:
- advance bilateral trade and investment between New Jersey and Ireland;
- initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to New Jersey and Ireland;
- promote business and academic exchanges between New Jersey and Ireland;
- encourage mutual economic support between New Jersey and Ireland;
- encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of New Jersey and Ireland; and
- address any other issues as determined by the commission.
“Over the past few years, Ireland has proved to be a strong economic partner to New Jersey. In 2021, New Jersey-Ireland trade totaled $2.4 billion. We must continue to foster this important relationship to support both cultural and business exchanges between our countries,” said Assemblywoman Murphy (D-Burlington) who currently serves as the national Co-Chair of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. “Establishing the New Jersey Irish Trade Commission will enable us to further develop our partnership with Ireland, expanding opportunities for Irish businesses to find their U.S. home in our state and encouraging collaboration between our institutions of higher education.”
On Wednesday, Assemblywoman Murphy traveled to the Irish Consulate in New York City to present the Irish delegation with a signed copy of the bill.
“I was pleased to learn that Governor Phil Murphy has signed a bill establishing the New Jersey-Ireland Trade Commission and I look forward to meeting Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, co-chair of the New Jersey American Irish State Legislators Caucus (AISLC), to hear more on the Commission’s objectives,” said Ireland’s Minister of State for the Diaspora, Seán Fleming, TD. “This bill indicates a strong desire to deepen two-way trade, investment and education links between Ireland and the State of New Jersey. New Jersey has more than 9 million inhabitants – of which approx. 1.1m claim Irish heritage – and it ranks in the top ten biggest economies of the United States. The state is an important source of investment into Ireland, and a growing number of Irish-origin companies also have operations there.”