▁concent rate ▁on ▁matters ▁rel ating ▁to ▁the ▁country ' s ▁position ▁in ▁Europe ▁and ▁acc ession ▁to ▁the ▁E EC . ▁App oint ed ▁Ass istant ▁Secretary ▁and ▁Political ▁Director ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 , ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁powerful , ▁but ▁largely ▁un he ard ▁of ▁European ▁Econom ic ▁Community ' s ▁Political ▁Committee , ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁key ▁negoti ator ▁of ▁the ▁Single ▁European ▁Act , ▁which ▁evol ved ▁the ▁E EC ▁into ▁the ▁European ▁Community , ▁a ▁role ▁facil itated ▁by ▁his ▁complete ▁flu ency ▁in ▁both ▁French ▁and ▁English , ▁then ▁the ▁two ▁Working ▁languages ▁of ▁the ▁E EC ; ▁as ▁political ▁director ▁he ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁main ▁Irish ▁particip ant ▁in ▁European ▁Political ▁Co operation , ▁a ▁role ▁in ▁which ▁he ▁travel led ▁widely ▁in ▁connection ▁with ▁East ▁Europe / West ▁Europe ▁relations ▁and ▁other ▁prior ities ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Arab / Is ra eli ▁conflict . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁he ▁was ▁made ▁Irish ▁Amb assador ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁Mexico . ▁During ▁this ▁period ▁he ▁advoc ated ▁the ▁support ▁of ▁Congress ▁for ▁the ▁Ang lo - I r ish ▁Ag re ement ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁and ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁The ▁American ▁Ireland ▁Fund ▁by ▁mer ging ▁the ▁then ▁American ▁Irish ▁Foundation ▁and ▁Ireland ▁Fund . ▁ ▁He ▁also ▁assist ed ▁Congress men ▁Brian ▁D onn elly ▁and ▁Bruce ▁Mor r ison , ▁House ▁Spe aker ▁T ip ▁O ' Ne ill ▁and ▁Sen ators