[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E279-E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, the glorious and joyous holiday of Saint 
Patrick's Day for all of those Irish around the world, and their many 
friends, fast approaches once again.
  It is especially important this year to celebrate this great holiday 
honoring Ireland's patron saint, and we and the entire world hope and 
pray that lasting peace and justice on the Emerald Isle will emerge 
from the current peace talks on the future of the north of Ireland.
  I recently returned from Ireland where I helped lead a Congressional 
delegation to reinvigorate the Irish American inter-parliamentary 
exchange, dormant since the mid-1980s.
  We were all very grateful for the leadership of our Speaker Newt 
Gingrich, and the work of our distinguished U.S. Ambassador Jeane 
Kennedy Smith in Dublin, in helping to bring about this renewed inter-
parliamentary exchange between Ireland and the U.S. Congress.
  We saw firsthand on our visit to Ireland, the new economic vibrancy 
in the Irish Republic. The ``Celtic Tiger'' is alive and well. One 
statistic we learned paints the impressive economic picture of the new 
Ireland: Other than the U.S. today, Ireland exports more computers 
worldwide than any other nation in the world, including even Japan.
  For the first time in many years, there are more than enough good 
jobs, immigration is down, and the Irish diaspora are returning home to 
work and take these new jobs. 4,500 in 1997 alone returned home from 
America. The long suffering of the close knit Irish family from the 
immigration of its sons and daughters, hopefully is a thing of the 
past.
  The close links, common bonds, friendships and mutual understandings 
between the Irish people and our nation are long, strong and vibrant. 
Both nations have benefited from these close ties, common links, and 
deep mutual understandings and fond affection.
  The Irish have played a vital part in American history. There were 
Irish soldiers and officers who distinguished themselves in the 
American Revolution, helping us secure our own freedom from the 
British.
  Many Irish paid the ultimate sacrifices in our tragic civil war. For 
example, 540 Irishmen died or were wounded in less than 30 minutes on 
September 17th, 1862 at Antietam in fighting on the side of the north 
as part of the Irish Brigade, in the bloodiest day of our civil war.
  The Irish contribution is enormous to our politics, arts, sports, 
literature, commerce, the labor movement, and so many other areas of 
our American life. We, as a nation and a people, owe the Emerald Isle 
much. We have an obligation to pay attention to events in Ireland 
today.
  The Irish role in U.S. politics is well known, including providing us 
more than a dozen American Presidents. Our histories, cultures, and 
people are very closely linked.
  It is little noted, but at one time not long ago, the President of 
the U.S., the Speaker of the House, and the Majority Leader of the U.S. 
Senate, while serving together in our highest elected offices, were all 
Irish Catholic with close and very deep roots in the Emerald Isle.
  Today, the future of the north of Ireland, and its relationship with 
the vibrant and prospering Republic of Ireland to the south is being 
decided across the bargaining table, not by the bomb and gun. Those 
engaged in the senseless sectarian killings have not de-railed the 
peace process. They shouldn't and must not be permitted to do so!
  The U.S., both the executive branch and the Congress have played a 
vital and constructive role through an evenhanded and balanced approach 
to the Irish peace process, now moving forward in Belfast, albeit at 
far too slow a pace.
  I have been particularly pleased to play a small part in keeping the 
Irish question high on the U.S. foreign policy agenda. We owe all the 
Irish people here and there, at least that much.
  I have not hesitated to provide bipartisan support for President 
Clinton's overall constructive and very helpful efforts in helping to 
find peace and lasting justice in the north of Ireland.
  These historic talks in Belfast today are being led, we are all very 
proud to say, under the table chairmanship of our former congressional 
colleague, Senator George Mitchell of Maine who himself has some proud 
Irish roots.
  In promoting the effort to finding lasting peace and justice in the 
north through all party inclusive talks, we in America have in some 
small way been able to help pay back Ireland's warm and generous 
people, who have given our nation so much.
  Today, after urging by both governments in the region, the U.S., and 
the millions of friends of the Irish people all around the globe, the 
future of the north is being decided by the responsible leadership of 
the people through political means, and discussions and their eventual 
``consent'' to any proposed solutions. This is how it should be!
  The Irish people both north and south, have consistently made clear 
that talks and negotiated political settlement were and are the

[[Page E280]]

preferred means to the protracted problems on that small and beautiful 
island.
  We must all insist that substantive progress in the talks come soon. 
The Irish people must be presented with political solutions so they can 
exercise their right to ``consent'' in deciding for themselves the 
political and economic future of their island. The referendums which 
are intended to be scheduled on May 7, 1998, in both the north and 
south will give the people of Ireland a chance to exercise that consent 
over any proposed solutions for the future of their small island.
  We must all work even harder at this historic and important moment in 
Irish history. We must help finding meaningful efforts to foster 
lasting peace and justice through building greater understanding and 
respect for human rights, and equality of esteem for both traditions.
  We must help build a shared economic prosperity in the north. In 
addition, we must strive for greater reconciliation, especially through 
the treatment of Irish prisoners, and of those on the loyalist side, as 
well. Far too many on both sides have suffered long and enough in this 
struggle.
  We now have the chance to put behind once and for all a struggle and 
a divisive past in the north of Ireland. This well clearly be for the 
benefit of the future, and for all of the youth of Ireland.
  I have been proud of the long and warm friendship I have had with our 
Irish-Americans here in America, as well as the Irish on the Emerald 
Isle.
  As we all prepare to celebrate the great holiday of Saint Patrick's 
day, let us hope and pray that this year the terrible and destructive 
division of the Emerald Isle and its people can and will be resolved 
permanently, justly and peacefully.

                          ____________________