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Alaska bill would establish an Alaska–Ireland Trade Commission after testimony from Irish senator
Summary
Rep. Mia Costello introduced HB278 to create a five-member Alaska–Ireland Trade Commission aimed at promoting trade, investment and cultural ties; Senator Mark Daly of Ireland told the committee the commission would give Alaska a voice in EU markets and foster links for sectors such as seafood and broadband.
Representative Mia Costello told the Senate State Affairs Committee on April 28 that House Bill 278 would establish an Alaska–Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to promote economic, educational and cultural relations with Ireland.
"We believe that Ireland is a natural partner for Alaska," Costello said, noting longstanding personal and institutional ties and that many other U.S. states have created similar trade commissions.
The bill, as summarized by Jack Thompson, Costello’s staff, would create a five-member commission appointed by the governor with staggered three-year terms, allow the commission to accept gifts and grants, require meetings to comply with Alaska's open meetings law, and direct the commission to submit a written report of activities and recommendations to the governor and legislature during each legislative session.
The committee heard invited testimony from Senator Mark Daly of the Seanad (Senate) of Ireland, who said an Alaska trade commission would give Alaska access to the European Union market through Ireland. Daly characterized Ireland as a gateway to a 27-country market of roughly 450 million people and described existing U.S. state-level trade-commission relationships with Irish counterparts.
"With this commission, companies who want to access that market from Alaska can do it through the island of Ireland," Daly said, citing opportunities for Alaska’s seafood sector and describing programs that bring state trade commissioners to Ireland for meetings with Irish companies.
Committee members asked whether there are U.S. trade offices in Ireland; Daly said states rely on visiting delegations and trade representatives rather than permanent state trade offices. No formal committee action or vote was taken; Chair Kawasaki set HB278 aside for later consideration and noted the committee will post a state-affairs committee version of SB243 for a Saturday hearing.
The committee will accept amendments by the announced deadline and revisit the measure in a future meeting.
