[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E325-E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SAINT PATRICK'S DAY MARCH 17, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on March 17th, again we approach another 
glorious, joyous Saint Patrick's Day. The Irish people around the 
globe, along with the millions here in our nation linked to the Emerald 
Isle by heritage, as well as their friends worldwide, join in 
celebrating this glorious day honoring the patron saint of that 
beautiful country of so many warm and generous people.
  The American experience is linked closely with the Irish people. 
Ireland has given us numerous Presidents with links to both the north 
and south. Its diaspora fought for our nation as early as with General 
George Washington as we gained our own independence from Great Britain. 
Today, more than 44 million Americans claim Irish heritage.
  It is only fitting that our nation assist the Irish people in finding 
lasting peace and justice in the north of Ireland and in ending the 
bitter, divisive, and tragic conflict, that the Irish call the 
``Troubles.'' For the past eight years the U.S. Congress in a 
bipartisan way fully supported President Clinton in all of his Irish 
peace process initiatives which eventually helped produce the Good 
Friday Accord of April 1998, under the guidance and steady hand of 
former U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
  The Good Friday Accord is the road map for lasting peace and justice 
in the north of Ireland, which we and all the parties to that accord, 
as well as both governments in the region should honor, abide by, and 
use for the new shared governance created so that both traditions can 
live in harmony, peace, and equality in the north under the concept of 
mutual consent. The Irish people north and south approved the accord in 
referendum. They want peace!
  Now, with a new Administration coming to power in Washington, many 
wonder if the Irish peace process will be given the same priority by 
the Administration of George W. Bush. We in the Congress stand ready to 
provide the same kind of across the board bi-partisanship support for 
the new Administration in the continuing search for a lasting peace and 
justice in Ireland. We owe that to the new Administration, as well as 
to the Irish people, who have given so much to this nation of ours from 
its very founding until today.
  Candidate George W. Bush supported the GOP platform in Philadelphia 
in 2000 which said: ``The next President will use the prestige and 
influence of the United States to help the parties achieve a lasting 
peace.'' Candidate Bush himself went on to set out his own approach in 
a letter to the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on September 8, 2000, 
stating ``. . . the entire island of Ireland have a friend in George W. 
Bush. America should remain engaged in the Irish peace process, and I 
will work hard and pray always for a lasting peace in Northern 
Ireland.''
  For those of us who have observed President George W. Bush in his 
first weeks of office abiding by and living up to his 2000 campaign 
promises and pledges, no one doubts that Ireland will be high on his 
foreign policy agenda, and that the Congress will support him.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the letter from George W. Bush to the Irish 
Prime Minister at this point in the Record and I invite my colleagues 
to join in wishing our Irish-American friends and all of Ireland a 
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

                                            Governor of Texas,

                                    Austin, TX, September 8, 2000.
     Hon. Bertie Ahern, T.D.,
     Taoiseach, Republic of Ireland.
     Dublin, Ireland.
       Dear Bertie: I want to extend my personal greetings to you, 
     and to express my admiration for your commitment to peace in 
     Northern Ireland. The road has been long, and it has not been 
     easy, but you have succeeded in furthering reconciliation and 
     bringing an elected representative Assembly to Northern 
     Ireland.
       You may be assured of my personal interest and full 
     commitment to helping move the peace process forward. I 
     believe that the support of the United States was an 
     important element in helping the parties achieve the Good 
     Friday Agreement, and that America should be ready, if 
     necessary, to appoint a special envoy to further facilitate 
     the search for lasting peace, justice, and reconciliation.
       I am encouraged by the very real economic growth that has 
     come to the entire island of Ireland. At least part of this 
     growth can be credited to the strengthening of business ties 
     between the United States and Ireland, and I strongly support 
     continued and increased private American investment in both 
     Northern Ireland and the Republic.
       I am also encouraged by the work of Chris Patten and his 
     Commission in reviewing and recommending reforms of the 
     police authorities in Northern Ireland. I appreciate the 
     importance of tradition and symbols, and the sensitivities of 
     the communities in Northern Ireland on this issue, and 
     support the full implementation of the Commission's 
     recommendations.
       Please know that you and the people of the entire island of 
     Ireland have a friend in George W. Bush. America should 
     remain engaged in the Irish peace process, and I will work 
     hard and pray always for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
           Sincerely,
                                                   George W. Bush.


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