[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          ST. PATRICK'S DAY PRAYER: PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  (Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, during the last 36 months the 
world has witnessed extraordinary change at a breathtaking pace. The 
dismantling of the Berlin Wall, the demise of the Soviet Union, 
majority rule in South Africa, and most recently, the historic talks 
between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The season of 
peace and democracy seems to be among us. On this day when we celebrate 
the birth of St. Patrick, let us renew our efforts to finally bring 
peace and justice to Northern Ireland.
  For there is now a chance to end the bloody sectarian strife that has 
killed more than 3,000 men, women, and children during the past 25 
years. An effective framework for dialog between all parties and all 
traditions may now exist. On both islands there is palpable desire to 
end this bitter conflict. And those concerned about the fate of 
Northern Ireland, both here in the United States and elsewhere, are 
hopeful that the days of the gun and the bomb may be numbered.
  Mr. Speaker, history reminds us that partition simply does not work, 
whether it is in Vietnam, Korea, or Germany. The legitimate aspirations 
of people simply cannot be denied. The British have to accept the fact 
that they cannot defeat the Irish Republican Army, and the IRA has to 
accept the fact that they cannot defeat the 17,000 British troops who 
now occupy the six counties of Northern Ireland. This stalemate is 
simply no longer acceptable, and must be expeditiously resolved.
  As Irish-Americans come together today to recognize their history and 
culture, let us hope that when St. Patrick's Day is celebrated next 
year that the violence in the north will have ended, and that a 
peaceful, unified Ireland will be a reality.

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