Biden expected to appoint Joe Kennedy as special envoy for Northern Ireland

His father is former US Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, while his grandfather was US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, brother of former US President Joseph “JFK” Kennedy.

He attended Stanford University before later graduating from Harvard Law School and served in the US House of Representatives for Massachusetts from 2013 to 2021.

Kennedy’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy, was involved in a controversial visit to Northern Ireland in the 1980s, during which he was reportedly involved in an argument with a British soldier on patrol near Divis Flats in west Belfast.

The post of Northern Ireland’s special envoy has been vacant since 2021, having previously been filled by former US President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Past envoys include George Mitchell, Richard Haass and Gary Hart.

Kennedy’s confirmation in the role will be announced shortly by the White House, according to Politico.

Earlier this month it was reported that Joe Biden was looking to fill the post in the coming weeks as the United States has a greater say in Northern Ireland following the protocol dispute and the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Former Irish Ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall, who held the post from 2017 to August, told BBC NI’s Sunday Politics program that President Biden had a “desire” to fill the post.

The pre-Christmas date comes as President Biden is tipped to visit Northern Ireland as part of a series of events planned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next year.