[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 117 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE ON PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2000

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
of House Resolution 547 and I commend my colleague, Congressman Neal, 
for bringing this important measure to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, the last 4 years have brought great change to Northern 
Ireland and we are all hopeful that these changes will eventually yield 
peace. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details. One of the most 
glaring of these details is the matter of policing. If there is going 
to be lasting peace in Northern Ireland, then there must be reform of 
the Royal Ulster Constabulary [RUC]--Northern Ireland's police force. 
The RUC is comprised of 92 percent Protestant officers and human rights 
organizations have historically accused this police force of brutality 
against Catholics in the region.
  Without addressing this contentious and complex problem, it will be 
impossible for peace to reign in Northern Ireland. I might add that the 
United States is no stranger to incidents of police brutality. In fact, 
we have bills pending in Congress which call for reforms of police 
enforcement practices. We know in the United States that if a community 
does not have trust in the law enforcement charged with policing them, 
then chaos and unrest will rule. We must be consistent in our country 
and when we call for peace in other countries, like Northern Ireland. 
That is why I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of House 
Resolution 547.
  This resolution encourages the British Parliament to follow the 
recommendations of the Patten Report: To give the police force a new 
name, new badges and symbols free of the British or Irish states; to no 
longer fly the Union flag at police stations; and, to substantially 
increase the proportion of Catholic officers to 30 percent of the total 
force in 10 years.
  If the parties involved in the peace agreement can accept these 
recommendations and implement them in a timely fashion, then I believe 
that they can achieve lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Mr. Speaker, I 
urge all my colleagues to support House Resolution 547.

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