[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       STATEMENT BY THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND ST. PATRICK'S DAY 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2005

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, the Friends of Ireland in the Congress join 
38 million Irish Americans in celebrating the unique ties between 
America and the island of Ireland. We welcome the Taoiseach Bertie 
Ahern to the United States, and we send our warmest greetings to all 
the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
  Irish Americans care deeply about Northern Ireland, and we commend 
President Bush for his efforts to keep the American government involved 
in the pursuit of peace. We also praise Mitchell Reiss, the President's 
special envoy to Ireland, for his unwavering commitment and his bi-
partisan American approach to the process.
  We do regret that none of the political parties from Northern Ireland 
will be represented at the Shamrock Ceremony or the Speaker's Luncheon 
this year, but this should be taken as a clear signal reflecting the 
severity of the situation, and the immediate need for all parties to 
return to the negotiating table.
  In 1998, the parties to the Good Friday Agreement committed to 
partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis for moving 
forward. We continue to believe that inclusive power sharing--based on 
those three defining qualities--is essential to the viability and 
advancement of the democratic process in Northern Ireland. A political 
system based on inclusive power sharing requires trust and confidence. 
The parties to the Good Friday Agreement also affirmed their total and 
absolute commitment to exclusively democratic and peaceful means.
  The recent events in Northern Ireland involving alleged and admitted 
criminality by IRA members have put tremendous pressure on all the 
governments and have seriously undermined the trust and confidence that 
are essential to advance the process. We deplore this tragic setback. 
Circumstances on both the Nationalist and Unionist sides have created 
great chasms of mistrust. Neither side is blameless in this tragic 
breakdown, and the British, Irish and United States Governments must 
devote themselves to instill the trust and continue the forward 
movement.
  Clearly, there is essential work to be done in ending all 
paramilitary activity, permanently restoring the democratic 
institutions, progressing with demilitarization, and advancing an 
equality agenda. It is also imperative, in all democratic societies, 
for all parties to be willing to work with the criminal justice system 
or in this case the Police Service.
  We regret that the dramatic effort to reach an agreement over the 
Christmas Holiday fell short. The world watched as the framework was 
set, and all parties were steps away from a victorious moment in 
history. We must remind all the parties that this framework is still in 
place and there was a reason why an agreement was almost settled only a 
few months ago. It is from this point that negotiations must resume.
  We commend the Irish and British Governments for their ongoing 
efforts to work with the political leaders in Northern Ireland to 
restore the trust and confidence that are essential to advance the 
peace. On this St. Patrick's Day, we look forward to the day when the 
Good Friday Agreement will be finally and fully implemented, and to the 
day when stable democratic institutions, peace, and justice will be 
achieved in Northern Ireland.

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