[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 SENSE OF HOUSE WITH RESPECT TO PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 561), expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives with respect to the prospects for peace in 
Northern Ireland.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 561

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Andrews] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews].
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, first I want to commend the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Neal], who is the sponsor of this 
resolution, who has brought this issue to the attention of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and to the attention of the United States 
Congress.
  Northern Ireland is a place where suffering has become all too 
common, where news accounts of terrorist activity and great suffering 
have become commonplace. There has been a great breakthrough in recent 
weeks and months, which this resolution commends.
  The resolution really does 3 things:
  First it acknowledges the role of all parties to the present 
discussions and negotiations in taking a bold and courageous step 
forward for peace and to end the suffering. It commends all of those 
involved.
  Second, it calls upon our President and our administration to 
facilitate this negotiation to the extent that that is within our 
control. It calls for our Government to be a positive and constructive 
force in bringing together these sides who have fought each other for 
so long in such a bloody and violent way.
  Finally, it calls attention to and commends the work of institutions, 
such as the Fund for Ireland, and encourages the administration to use 
these tools most effectively and expeditiously so that economic growth 
can replace ethnic and religious rivalry and so that prosperity can 
replace violence as quickly as possible in Northern Ireland, so that we 
may celebrate in future resolutions a permanent and lasting resolution 
of this very bloody and painful conflict.
  With that, I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment our distinguished 
chairman, Mr. Hamilton, for arranging to bring this timely and 
important resolution to the House floor on the current peace process in 
the North of Ireland.
  Our colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
Neal], is to be complimented for his leadership and concern for peace 
and justice in Northern Ireland. I am pleased to be an original 
cosponsor of this measure before us, that reflects those deeply held 
concerns.
  The recent developments on possible lasting peace and justice in that 
long troubled region, are very encouraging. The resolution before us 
recognizes that new reality. It contains several excellent 
recommendations on what more needs to be done.
  One of the key ingredients helping create this new climate for peace 
has been the expanding political dialogue among the parties.
  Representatives of the interested parties of both traditions have 
recently been visiting the United States and meeting with Members of 
Congress and the administration. The visits are testament to the 
critical role all sides see the United States playing in the peace 
process.
  It is clear that the British Government must permit the IRA, in light 
of their declared and honored cease-fire of more than a month, an 
appropriate place at the peace table now. It once dealt with the IRA, 
even before there was no cessation of violence, surely it can do so 
now, under the present favorable circumstances.
  This resolution recognizes the value of such productive political 
dialogue. All the parties must renounce the use of violence and be 
permitted at the peace table, once they do so, without delay. Without 
inclusive dialogue, the fragile peace process can all to easily become 
derailed.
  The resolution also urges expanded United States economic assistance 
for Ireland. Along with the International Fund for Ireland, the 
resolution recognizes that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
[OPIC] can play a key role in helping to foster long-term peace.
  OPIC can help create the climate for shared and equally distributed 
economic development that can foster lasting peace. Economic 
development in the north is badly needed to build future and shared 
wealth and prosperity at this critical moment in Irish history.
  The House has already created the necessary authorization for the 
OPIC process needed to open the door and create an Irish equity fund of 
up to $60 million in fiscal year 1995.
  This resolution urges administration support for that OPIC equity 
fund initiative now.
  We have heard much about the high priority that the White House puts 
on the peace process for Northern Ireland. Yet to date, only the 
Congress, on its own initiative, has acted on any economic assistance 
proposal before we adjourn.
  We have yet to see any administration economic assistance initiative. 
The administration has not seized the current momentum, nor taken 
advantage of the great public interest, at this crucial time to build 
support here in the United States for increased economic assistance. A 
valuable opportunity may have been lost.
  Let us hope this strong and timely resolution serves to keep the 
Irish question on the administration's foreign policy priority action 
list.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting this resolution and 
putting the House on record for promoting progress on peace in the 
North of Ireland.

                              {time}  2240

  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased on behalf of the 
committee majority to extend our appreciation to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman], and the minority for their cooperation on this 
resolution. As the grandson of a grandfather born and raised in 
Belfast, Northern Ireland, it is a special privilege to be able to 
present this resolution to the House this evening.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
resolution before us today, H. Res. 561, which urges the Clinton 
administration to take deliberate steps to bolster the peace process 
underway in Northern Ireland.
  H. Res. 561, Mr. Speaker, calls attention to the rapid and 
significant strides that have been made in most recent months towards 
peace in Northern Ireland. Despite years of civil strife and human 
rights abuses in the region, the British and Irish governments, as well 
as the ardently opposed political factions within Northern Ireland, 
have demonstrated an unquestioned desire and commitment to lasting 
peace.
  The dialogue and accords such as the Downing Street Declaration, have 
been promising and productive. Still, the most foretelling indication 
that lasting peace may possibly be achieved was the Irish Republican 
Army's unilateral cease fire which has been honored assiduously since 
its declaration over a month ago. The realization of a cease fire is a 
momentous turning point which cannot be overstated and should not be 
overlooked.
  Through the cease fire, Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army have 
signaled a willingness to put down their guns and to negotiate a 
political settlement. This olive branch, Mr. Speaker, must be accepted 
by other paramilitary groups in the region and should help the IRA win 
an official seat at the negotiating table with the British and Irish 
governments. For our part, Mr. Speaker, the United States must vocally 
support candid and inclusive dialogue in which all factions 
participate. As the leader of the free world, the United States has 
played a critical role in helping to achieve peace in numerous regions 
around the globe. Northern Ireland should be no different.
  To this end, Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 561 is a clear, unequivocal 
statement of our support for the peace process as well as our 
suggestions for what else should be done. Through H. Res. 561, the 
House of Representatives marks this historic journey towards peace and 
commends the permanent cessation of the IRA military operation as an 
essential step to a peaceful settlement. Similarly, we commend the 
Irish and British governments for their efforts to date and urge them 
to permit and invite the IRA into future talks designed to foster the 
peace. We urge other paramilitary organizations to seek a role in the 
talks by renouncing the use of violence themselves as well. Our 
resolution makes it clear that all parties, who put down their guns, 
can contribute to a final accord.
  Beyond this, Mr. Speaker, today's resolution, urges the Clinton 
administration to recognize the limited time frame which exists and the 
need to make the peace effort in Northern Ireland a priority. To 
facilitate the peace, we call on the President to use his diplomatic 
resources to nurture talks that include all parties so that new bonds 
of trust can be established. Equally important, we call on President 
Clinton to expand U.S. financial support for Northern Ireland through 
the International Fund for Ireland and through the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation [OPIC]. He has the authority to do so. Already 
this year, the House has provided for the creation of an Irish equity 
fund of up to $60 million in guaranteed loans through OPIC. The loans 
would help spur economic growth and alleviate unemployment on a equally 
distributed basis. As you know, the unequal distribution of 
unemployment between Protestants and Catholics in the region has been a 
continued source of unrest of strife.
  Mr. Speaker, in his meeting yesterday with the Ad Hoc Committee for 
Irish Affairs--of which I am a member--Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams 
agreed that two of the most important contributions the U.S. can make 
is to use our diplomatic relationships to cultivate the dialogue 
between all parties and to help with the economic strife in the region. 
H. Res. 561 offers President Clinton vehicles to achieve these goals. 
It is my profound hope that he will use them.
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poshard). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 561.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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