[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 34 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN THE SPIRIT OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 17, 1997

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I am 
inviting all my colleagues to become a Friend of Ireland. The Friends 
of Ireland is a bipartisan congressional organization established in 
1981 by the late Speaker, Thomas ``Tip'' O'Neill. Every successive 
Speaker has carried on the tradition and my appointment as chairman by 
Speaker Gingrich is a clear demonstration of the bipartisan nature of 
the Friends. The Speaker and Minority Leader Gephardt serve as honorary 
chairmen of the group.
  The purpose of the Friends of Ireland is to increase the bonds of 
friendship and understanding between the American people and the people 
of Ireland. We look for a peaceful solution to the problems of this 
troubled land. Our organization is open to all members of the 105th 
Congress who share its principles and has attracted widespread support 
over the years. There are also several Senators who are members of the 
Friends.
  Over the years, the statements of support for peace in Ireland, 
condemnations of human rights abuses, assistance to the International 
Fund for Ireland, and general expressions of goodwill have made a 
difference. The voice of the United States Congress is listened to very 
attentively in Ireland both in the Republic and in the North.
  I would like to share with you this year's St. Patrick's Day 
statement:

      Statement by the Friends of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day 1997

       On this St. Patrick's Day, we the Friends of Ireland renew 
     our call for the IRA to restore its cease-fire, which should 
     be followed by Sinn Fein's immediate entry into the Northern 
     Ireland all-party peace talks when they resume in June.
       The Friends of Ireland commend our former colleague, 
     Senator George Mitchell, for his outstanding service as 
     chairman of the talks. The talks offer an historic 
     opportunity to address the three key relationships which must 
     underpin any settlement--those within Northern Ireland, 
     between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. We 
     fully support this process, and recognize that there is much 
     greater likelihood for success if all parties with an 
     electoral mandate, including Sinn Fein, participate in the 
     talks. Sinn Fein's participation in the talks, however, is 
     properly conditional on the unequivocal restoration of the 
     cease-fire by the IRA.
       We also recognize that the IRA maintained a cease-fire for 
     17 months, from September 1994 to February 1996. It is of 
     deepest concern that, during that long and hopeful period, 
     additional obstacles were laid in the way of bringing all 
     parties to the table. We hope that a renewed IRA cease-fire 
     will on this occasion be met with an appropriate response by 
     the British Government, including the taking of necessary 
     confidence-building measures.
       Basic issues of equal justice and human rights are at the 
     heart of the conflict in Northern Ireland and they must be 
     central to any realistic resolution of the conflict. Peace 
     without justice is not sustainable. It is only likely to 
     flourish when all sides feel that their basic rights are 
     respected and protected. Accordingly, we urge prompt action 
     to remedy outstanding miscarriages of justice such as the 
     Casement and Latimer cases. In light of the compelling new 
     evidence surrounding Bloody Sunday, we add our voice to the 
     calls for a new inquiry into this tragedy.
       We are also concerned by the deteriorating conditions under 
     which Republican prisoners are being held in Britain and in 
     particular the treatment of Roisin McAliskey. It is 
     essential, in negotiating a new political framework 
     for Northern Ireland, that respect for human rights be 
     guaranteed. The creation of a Bill of Rights, and a police 
     service with the confidence of the whole community, are 
     essential to ensure the protection of the rights of all 
     and to lay a solid foundation for a lasting peace.
       We strongly oppose the continued and increased punishment 
     beatings by paramilitaries in both communities. Such 
     atrocities have no place in society, and we call for an 
     immediate end to these attacks.
       It is essential that there be no repeat of the deplorable 
     events during last year's marching season. The RUC behavior 
     at Drumcree further eroded the confidence of the Catholic 
     community in fairness of the police force. As the State 
     Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 
     recently noted: ``Many observers on both sides of the 
     community perceived the Government's reversal in the face of 
     unlawful Unionist protests as a victory of might over the 
     rule of law, and the incident damaged the RUC's reputation as 
     a impartial police force.''
       We therefore strongly endorse the recommendations in the 
     North Report that an independent parades commission be given 
     full decision-making powers to deal effectively with 
     controversial parades. We are concerned at the British 
     Government's decision to delay implementation of significant 
     sections of the report, which in our view must be in place in 
     advance of this year's marching season.
       The Friends of Ireland welcome the strong commitment of 
     President Clinton and the Congress to the success of the 
     peace process in Northern Ireland, and the transformation in 
     the situation which all have helped bring about. We are 
     confident that the United States will continue to play a 
     constructive role in encouraging an early and peaceful 
     resolution of the conflict for the benefit of all of the 
     people of Northern Ireland.


                 friends of ireland executive committee

       Edward M. Kennedy, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Christopher J. 
     Dodd, Newt Gingrich, Richard A. Gephardt, and James T. Walsh.

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