Rooney Has Irish Ambassador Hearing Under Belt

An Irish Ambassador hearing for Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney wrapped up Wednesday afternoon.

The committee will vote after the July 4 break on whether to confirm Rooney as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

Wednesday's hearing began at 2:30 p.m. and lasted about an hour before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced Rooney to the committee.

“When the nomination was made on St. Patrick’s Day, I had occasion to talk to Dan and tell him that I was sure there would be smooth sailing and he would have a lot of support,” Specter said. “And then there was some joking about Dan’s undertaking this job because it involved two items that he wasn’t too fond of: making speeches and staying up late. So that it is really a sacrifice to undertake the duties of Ambassador, but he is very well suited for it.”

Channel 11 News' Washington bureau reporter Megan Hughes was there for the hearings.

MEGAN HUGHES' BLOG:

2:30 PM: Dan Rooney's confirmation hearing is to begin in minutes. The Pittsburgh media is swarming. We managed to get the only one-on-one interview with Rooney before the hearing. He seems relaxed, is smiling and says he isn't nervous a bit.

2:50 PM: Sen. Bob Casey is giving his introduction. He says he wishes his father was here to speak on Rooney's behalf. He knew Dan's father Art very well.

2:57 PM: We spoke with Pat Rooney, Dan's wife, who is sitting in the front row behind her husband. She says she's excited to get this part of the process over. I asked her about leaving Pittsburgh. She said she doesn't feel like it's "leaving." Pittsburgh will always be with them.

3:04 PM: Rooney is speaking right now, and he has quite a cheering section! In addition to Pat, his sons Jim and Art are in the crowd along with his daughter-in-law Stephanie and granddaughter Sarah Rooney.

3:11 PM: The football talk is in full swing among the Foreign Relations Committee members. Lawmakers who are Eagles and Browns fans (including Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown) say the rivalries won't affect their vote.

3:20 PM: Rooney is getting questions about lessons he has already learned from the peace in Ireland, and it could be used in places like the Middle East. He says it's important to bring people together to talk about common problems like health care. "Let the people know that America cares."

3:40 PM: The hearing has wrapped up with no tough questions or criticism of Dan Rooney. However, the committee won’t vote to confirm him until after the July Fourth break. So now, we wait.

On Tuesday Hughes asked Rooney if he was nervous about Wednesday's hearing.

"Not really right now. Maybe I will be tomorrow, especially with Sen. Casey here," said Rooney. "He's been a friend for a long time. He'll settle me down, I'm sure."

Video: Casey Talks About Rooney's Confirmation Hearing Video: Rooney Talks About Nomination, Effect On Steelers

Casey said he doesn't foresee any stumbling blocks to Rooney's confirmation as Irish ambassador.

In March, President Barack Obama announced Rooney's nomination to be ambassador.

Rooney has been an advocate for peace and education programs in the country for years, but he said that moving to Ireland would be a new challenge.

"I was asked yesterday if I'd ever lived abroad," said Rooney. "I said, 'I've never lived out of Pittsburgh, and so it will be something.' A lot of the players are saying, 'You're leaving us.' I say, 'I'm not leaving you. I'll be rooting for you all the way.' It will all work out fine."

"I can't think of a better person," said Casey. "He's got all the experience you'd want in an ambassador, but especially an ambassador to Ireland."

"Really honored to have the opportunity to talk to the committee and looking forward if I get confirmed to go to Ireland and do many of the things that I had been doing, but really under the official capacity as the ambassador," said Rooney. "It will be a real challenge, but a great one."

Rooney, who is part Irish, knows Ireland almost as well as he knows Pittsburgh. He and his wife have been traveling there for 40 years.

In 1976, Rooney co-founded the American Ireland Fund, an organization that to date has raised more than $300 million for peace and education programs in Ireland.

He also founded the annual prize for Irish Literature in 1987 and co-founded the Ireland Institution of Pittsburgh in 1989. In 1993, the “Rooney Fellowship” was created to honor his generosity and charitable works.

Previous Stories: March 17, 2009: Obama Names Dan Rooney U.S. Ambassador To Ireland March 16, 2009: Dan Rooney To Be Honored By American Ireland Fund January 29, 2009: Dan Rooney Front Runner For Irish Ambassadorship