[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 744 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 744

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         April 4, 2006.
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, in Belfast, was 
        endorsed in a referendum by the overwhelming majority of people in 
        Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland;
Whereas the parties to the Good Friday Agreement made a clear commitment to 
        ``partnership, equality, and mutual respect'' as the basis for moving 
        forward in pursuit of lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
Whereas the parties to the Good Friday Agreement also affirmed their ``total and 
        absolute commitment to exclusively democratic and peaceful means'' in 
        pursuit of lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
Whereas inclusive power-sharing based on these defining qualities is essential 
        to the viability and advancement of the democratic process in Northern 
        Ireland;
Whereas paramilitary activity by both traditions in a democratic society 
        undermines the trust and confidence that are essential in a political 
        system based on inclusive power-sharing in Northern Ireland;
Whereas on September 26, 2005, the International Independent Commission on 
        Decommissioning (IICD) confirmed the Irish Republican Army had destroyed 
        its full arsenal of weapons;
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement called for police reform and establishment of 
        a ``new beginning'' in policing in Northern Ireland with an effective, 
        accountable, and fair police service capable of attracting support from 
        the entire community, maintaining law and order, and adhering to the 
        principle of the protection of human rights;
Whereas the new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has made great strides 
        in becoming an integrated, professional, and impartial police force 
        under civilian control and responsive to all community concerns, and has 
        worked to protect both communities from violence;
Whereas significant further work in police reform, and in fostering community 
        acceptance of the PSNI, must still be accomplished;
Whereas the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland 
        continue to strongly support the Good Friday Agreement as the way 
        forward in the peace process and have committed themselves to its 
        implementation; and
Whereas the Government of the United States continues to strongly support the 
        peace process in Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House of Representatives--
                    (A) reiterates its support for the Good Friday Agreement, 
                signed on April 10, 1998, in Belfast, as the blueprint for a 
                lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
                    (B) commends the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony 
                Blair and the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for their leadership 
                and persistence in seeking a peaceful resolution in Northern 
                Ireland;
                    (C) commends the Sinn Fein leadership in successfully urging 
                the Irish Republican Army to end its armed struggle and 
                verifiably put its weapons beyond use;
                    (D) commends Sir Hugh S. Orde, Chief Constable of the Police 
                Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), for his leadership and for 
                working to protect both communities;
                    (E) commends the PSNI for the institution of the Historical 
                Enquiries Team, which will provide a thorough and independent 
                examination of unresolved deaths that occurred in connection 
                with the Troubles from 1968 to 1989;
                    (F) commends Nuala O'Loan and the Police Ombudsman's Office 
                for the work they have done in promoting human rights in law 
                enforcement and in fostering community confidence in the PSNI; 
                and
                    (G) commends the work of the Northern Irish Policing Board 
                and its District Partnerships for promoting genuine community 
                policing in Northern Ireland; and
            (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) all groups and organizations should end their 
                involvement in paramilitary activity;
                    (B) all political parties in Northern Ireland should--
                            (i) agree to share power with all parties according 
                        to the democratic mandate of the Good Friday Agreement; 
                        and
                            (ii) commit to work in good faith with all the 
                        institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, which 
                        established the Northern Ireland Assembly and an 
                        inclusive Executive, the North-South Ministerial 
                        Council, and the British-Irish Inter-Governmental 
                        Conference, for the benefit of all the people of 
                        Northern Ireland;
                    (C) since policing reform is a significant part of winning 
                public confidence and acceptance in the new form of government 
                in Northern Ireland, all political parties should cooperate 
                fully with the PSNI in preventing and investigating crimes; and
                    (D) the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government 
                of Ireland should work to achieve full implementation of the 
                Good Friday Agreement, including devolution of policing and 
                justice, the normalization of the security presence, and of the 
                Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland reforms, 
                including long-term senior-level exchanges between the Garda 
                Siochana, the police service of the Republic of Ireland, and the 
                PSNI.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.