[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 561 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 561

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
              the prospects for peace in Northern Ireland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 3, 1994

 Mr. Neal of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. Gilman) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
              the prospects for peace in Northern Ireland.

Whereas Northern Ireland has for many years been riven by violence;
Whereas this cycle of violence and death has embittered and further separated 
        the people of both great traditions on the island of Ireland, so that 
        reconciliation between them has been made more difficult;
Whereas the Irish and British Governments have made joint efforts pursuant to 
        the Anglo Irish Agreement of 1985 and 3-stranded talks between and among 
        the constitutional parties of the north and the 2 governments to find 
        political solutions to this situation that would win the support of the 
        majority of the people of Ireland, North and South;
Whereas the 2 governments have made further efforts in the Downing Street 
        Declaration of 1993 to establish principles under which such a political 
        settlement could be negotiated among all the parties in Northern Ireland 
        that renounce the use of violence;
Whereas, after a period of internal debate and consideration, the Irish 
        Republican Army announced on August 31, 1994, a complete cessation of 
        military operations and declared its willingness to participate in 
        political talks with other parties in Northern Ireland and the 2 
        governments;
Whereas the Irish Republican Army has kept its pledge to end military operations 
        since that time;
Whereas other loyalist and nationalist paramilitary organizations have not 
        declared their intention to end the use of military operations and have 
        in fact continued attacks;
Whereas the policy of the United States has consistently supported the end of 
        military operations and provided strong diplomatic and material support 
        for peace and reconciliation throughout the island of Ireland, and 
        particularly through annual appropriations to the International Fund for 
        Ireland;
Whereas the Congress of the United States has played a role of support for this 
        Fund and for the efforts of the 2 governments and of courageous leaders 
        of nonviolence from both traditions in Northern Ireland such as John 
        Hume, whose inspiration and dogged determination helped convince the 
        Irish Republican Army to lay down its arms;
Whereas the announcement of the Irish Republican Army ceasefire and the 
        determination of the 2 governments to offer a framework for 
        comprehensive political dialogue between all the political parties in 
        Northern Ireland now offer an historic climate for genuine peace and 
        reconciliation in all of Ireland; and
Whereas the International Fund for Ireland and the Overseas Private Investment 
        Corporation at this critical moment can play a key role in building a 
        public-private partnership in support of the peace process in Northern 
        Ireland, such as through an Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
        equity fund for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the British and Irish Governments for the 
        steps they have taken and are taking to encourage and 
        facilitate all-party talks leading to a lasting political 
        settlement acceptable to, and ratified by, the people of 
        Ireland, north and south;
            (2) urges the 2 governments to include all parties that 
        renounce violence into such talks as soon as possible;
            (3) hails the complete and permanent cessation of Irish 
        Republican Army military operations as an essential step to 
        such a settlement;
            (4) calls upon all other paramilitary organizations in 
        Northern Ireland similarly to cease the employment of violence;
            (5) expresses strong support for United States economic 
        development programs such as the International Fund for Ireland 
        and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation that can 
        contribute to a climate of economic development in which peace, 
        reconciliation, and justice become achievable goals for all in 
        Northern Ireland; and
            (6) urges the President to take appropriate steps to 
        support the peace process in Northern Ireland through such 
        programs.
                                 <all>