[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S2113]]
         ST. PATRICK'S DAY STATEMENT BY THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the Friends of Ireland is a bipartisan 
group of Senators and Representatives opposed to violence and terrorism 
in Northern Ireland and dedicated to maintaining a United States policy 
that promotes a just, lasting, and peaceful settlement of the conflict.
  On behalf of Senator Moynihan, Senator Dodd and myself, we would like 
to welcome our colleague Senator Mack as a new Member of the Friends of 
Ireland Senate Executive Committee.
  Each year, the Friends of Ireland issues an annual statement of the 
current situation in Northern Ireland. We believe our colleagues in 
Congress will find this year's statement of particular interest because 
of the events of the past year and potential for progress this year. I 
ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

      Statement by the Friends of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day 1998

       On this St. Patrick's Day the Friends of Ireland in the 
     United States Congress join 44 million Irish-Americans, with 
     ties to both traditions in Ireland, to celebrate our heritage 
     and the unique bonds between our two lands. We send greetings 
     to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and wish her well 
     in her new position. We warmly welcome the Taoiseach, Bertie 
     Ahern, on this his first St. Patrick's Day visit to 
     Washington since he became Ireland's Prime Minister in June.
       We share the hopes of the Irish people and their friends 
     throughout the world that, in the course of this year, the 
     Northern Ireland peace process will be successful and 
     establish an agreement which fully respects the rights of 
     nationalists and unionists, and can win the support of both.
       We congratulate the Irish and British governments under the 
     determined leadership of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and 
     Prime Minister Tony Blair, for their courage and ability in 
     seeking to advance the historic goal of ending this tragic 
     conflict. We welcome all the positive contributions which 
     have been made by political leaders in Northern Ireland to 
     the talks. We pay tribute in particular to the contribution 
     of our former colleague Senator George Mitchell in his role 
     as Chairman of the talks, and to both the Minister of Foreign 
     Affairs David Andrews, and the Northern Ireland Secretary of 
     State Marjorie Mowlam, for their tireless commitment to the 
     advancement of peace.
       We condemn in the strongest terms the cruel sectarian 
     killings and other acts of violence which have recently 
     brought renewed suffering to Northern Ireland. The clear 
     purpose of these sinister attacks is to destroy the peace 
     process. These enemies of peace must never be allowed to 
     succeed. No effort should be spared to bring those 
     responsible to justice. We urge in the strongest possible 
     terms that the cease-fires be maintained.
       The most effective response to those who would seek to 
     destroy this historic opportunity for peace in Northern 
     Ireland is for political leaders involved in the talks to 
     expand their dialogue and to redouble their efforts to reach 
     agreement.
       We agree with the Governments that the status quo in 
     Northern Ireland is not an option. It is for the Governments 
     and parties engaged in the talks to decide upon the precise 
     terms of new arrangements which will be fair to both 
     traditions. It is clear that ``the new beginning in 
     relationships'' which has been set as the goal for the talks 
     requires major change. We pledge our support to the 
     Governments and the talks participants who together must make 
     the difficult decisions needed to bring about that necessary 
     transformation.
       The critical test of the viability of any new agreement 
     will be whether it provides for just and equal treatment for 
     both communities and full respect for their respective 
     traditions. It should end forever the possibility that any 
     individual or group should fear that their rights are not 
     protected or that they are treated as second class citizens. 
     Equality of treatment must be the organizing principle of the 
     new political institutions which need to be developed in all 
     three Strands of the talks. We stress the particular 
     importance of meaningful North/South institutions in this 
     regard. Measures to promote equality, respect for human 
     rights, and fundamental freedoms are essential underpinnings 
     of any settlement, and should not be seen as concessions to 
     one side or the other. The enactment of a Bill of Rights, the 
     early repeal of the extensive body of emergency legislation, 
     and a commitment to the development of a police force 
     acceptable to all would constitute important steps in this 
     direction.
       We welcome Secretary of State Mowlam's recent announcement 
     of a new commitment to remedy the job imbalance in Northern 
     Ireland, under which Catholics are still twice as likely to 
     be unemployed as Protestants. It is our hope that concrete 
     steps to achieve genuine equality of opportunity in 
     employment will be rapidly implemented.
       We also wish to emphasize the need to avoid any repetition 
     this year of the appalling disturbances during last year's 
     marching season. We share the concern that the composition of 
     the Parades Commission is unbalanced. The Commission's 
     preliminary report will be issued soon, and we urge that all 
     decisions on parades be taken in a manner that is clearly 
     seen to be fair.
       We welcome the decision by the British Government to 
     appoint a tribunal of inquiry to consider new material, 
     including that presented by the Irish Government, regarding 
     the events of Bloody Sunday. We hope that this inquiry leads 
     to the truth and healing for the people of Derry, and in 
     particular for the families and relatives of the victims. We 
     are also conscious of the grief of many others who have lost 
     loved ones in the conflict, many whose remains are still 
     missing. We urge those in a position to do so to assist in 
     identifying remains so that they can be returned to their 
     families.
       The Friends of Ireland welcome the continuing bipartisan 
     commitment of President Clinton and the Congress to the 
     achievement of a just and lasting peace in Ireland and, in 
     particular, the support for the important work of the 
     International Fund for Ireland. To those ready to take risks 
     for peace, we pledge ourselves to support any agreement 
     reached by the parties. We believe that all involved now have 
     an historic opportunity to replace the politics of 
     discrimination with the politics of equality and mutual 
     respect. We urge all concerned to summon the political 
     courage to seize the moment.


                 FRIENDS OF IRELAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

     Senate: Edward M. Kennedy, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, 
     Christopher J. Dodd, Connie Mack.

     House of Representatives: Newt Gingrich, Richard A. Gephardt, 
     James T. Walsh.

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