Congressional Record, Volume 152 Issue 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)

[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1407-H1411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT AND CONTINUED POLICE
REFORM IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 744) expressing support for the Good Friday
Agreement of 1998 as the blueprint for lasting peace in Northern
Ireland and support for continued police reform in Northern Ireland as
a critical element in the peace process.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Res. 744

Whereas the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10,
1998, in Belfast, was endorsed in a referendum by the
overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland;
Whereas the parties to the Good Friday Agreement made a
clear commitment to ``partnership, equality, and mutual
respect'' as the basis for moving forward in pursuit of
lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
Whereas the parties to the Good Friday Agreement also
affirmed their ``total and absolute commitment to exclusively
democratic and peaceful means'' in pursuit of lasting peace
in Northern Ireland;
Whereas inclusive power-sharing based on these defining
qualities is essential to the viability and advancement of
the democratic process in Northern Ireland;
Whereas paramilitary activity by both traditions in a
democratic society undermines the trust and confidence that
are essential in a political system based on inclusive power-
sharing in Northern Ireland;
Whereas on September 26, 2005, the International
Independent Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) confirmed
the Irish Republican Army had destroyed its full arsenal of
weapons;
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement called for police reform
and establishment of a ``new beginning'' in policing in
Northern Ireland with an effective, accountable, and fair
police service capable of attracting support from the entire
community, maintaining law and order, and adhering to the
principle of the protection of human rights;
Whereas the new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
has made great strides in becoming an integrated,
professional, and impartial police force under civilian
control and responsive to all community concerns, and has
worked to protect both communities from violence;
Whereas significant further work in police reform, and in
fostering community acceptance of the PSNI, must still be
accomplished;
Whereas the Government of the United Kingdom and the
Government of Ireland continue to strongly support the Good
Friday Agreement as the way forward in the peace process and
have committed themselves to its implementation; and
Whereas the Government of the United States continues to
strongly support the peace process in Northern Ireland: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House of Representatives--
(A) reiterates its support for the Good Friday Agreement,
signed on April 10, 1998, in Belfast, as the blueprint for a
lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
(B) commends the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony
Blair and the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for their
leadership and persistence in seeking a peaceful resolution
in Northern Ireland;
(C) commends the Sinn Fein leadership in successfully
urging the Irish Republican Army to end its armed struggle
and verifiably put its weapons beyond use;
(D) commends Sir Hugh S. Orde, Chief Constable of the
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), for his leadership
and for working to protect both communities;
(E) commends the PSNI for the institution of the Historical
Enquiries Team, which will provide a thorough and independent
examination of unresolved deaths that occurred in connection
with the Troubles from 1968 to 1989;
(F) commends Nuala O'Loan and the Police Ombudsman's Office
for the work they have done in promoting human rights in law
enforcement and in fostering community confidence in the
PSNI; and
(G) commends the work of the Northern Irish Policing Board
and its District Partnerships for promoting genuine community
policing in Northern Ireland; and
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(A) all groups and organizations should end their
involvement in paramilitary activity;
(B) all political parties in Northern Ireland should--
(i) agree to share power with all parties according to the
democratic mandate of the Good Friday Agreement; and
(ii) commit to work in good faith with all the institutions
of the Good Friday Agreement, which established the Northern
Ireland Assembly and an inclusive Executive, the North-South
Ministerial Council, and the British-Irish Inter-Governmental
Conference, for the benefit of all the people of Northern
Ireland;
(C) since policing reform is a significant part of winning
public confidence and acceptance in the new form of
government in Northern Ireland, all political parties should
cooperate fully with the PSNI in preventing and investigating
crimes; and
(D) the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government
of Ireland should work to achieve full implementation of the
Good Friday Agreement, including devolution of policing and
justice, the normalization of the security presence, and of
the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland
reforms, including long-term senior-level exchanges between
the Garda Siochana, the police service of the Republic of
Ireland, and the PSNI.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa.

General Leave

Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Iowa?
There was no objection.
Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 744, a resolution
introduced by International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde. H.
Res. 744 expresses support by the House for the Good Friday Agreement
of 1998 as the blueprint for lasting peace in Northern Ireland. In
addition, it supports continued police reform in Northern Ireland,
which is a critical element in the implementation of the Good Friday
Accords.
At this time, I would like to commend Chairman Henry Hyde, as well as
Representatives Elton Gallegly and Chris Smith as well as our
distinguished ranking members Tom Lantos and Joe Crowley for their work
on

[[Page H1408]]

this measure and more importantly their commitment to this singularly
important peace process. I would like to also note the important role
of Mr. Walsh of New York and Mr. Neal of Massachusetts as the Chair and
Cochair of Ireland-related caucuses. H. Res. 744 also has broad-based
support among those House Members who long have been concerned about
finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Madam Speaker, since 1969, over 3,200 have died as a result of
terrorism and political violence in Northern Ireland. For years, the
British and Irish governments, assisted by the United States, sought to
facilitate a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Finally, in April of
1998, the long-warring Catholic and Protestant factions in Northern
Ireland signed the Good Friday Agreement. Just over a month later,
strong majorities in both the north and south of Ireland endorsed the
agreement in a referendum.
The Good Friday Agreement calls for the transfer of power from London
to Belfast and the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and
Executive Committee, in which Unionists and Nationalists share power.
It also contains provisions on disarmament, reformed policing, human
rights, prisoners, and demilitarization by British Armed Forces.
Madam Speaker, while the Good Friday Agreement provides a blueprint
for achieving peace and justice in Northern Ireland, its full
implementation has proved difficult. The devolved Northern Ireland
government has been suspended since October 2002 amid a loss of trust
on both sides of the conflict.
Unionists remain skeptical about the IRA's commitment to disarmament
and nonviolence. As a result, they have so far refused to join the
power-sharing institutions such as the Executive Committee, which was
created by the Good Friday Agreement for the purpose of exercising
executive authority in Northern Ireland.
On the other hand, Nationalists worry about the pace of police
reforms. They have refused to join the Policing Board, the independent
oversight body that ensures the Police Service of Northern Ireland is
effective, accountable and impartial.
That leaves us at a standstill in the peace process. The Unionists do
not have confidence as to the IRA's intentions and commitment to
nonviolence. The Nationalists still do not have confidence in the
police service and they question the Unionists' commitment to share
power with Catholics.
This legislation directly addresses these issues and clearly endorses
the Good Friday Agreement as the exclusive framework for a lasting
peace in Northern Ireland.
Specifically, House Resolution 744 states that it is the sense of the
House that all groups and both communities should end their involvement
and paramilitary activity.
Second, the legislation calls on all political parties to agree to
share power and work in good faith with the power-sharing institutions
established by the Good Friday Agreement.
Third, since police reform is a significant part of winning public
confidence in the new government in Northern Ireland, all political
parties should cooperate fully with the Police Service of Northern
Ireland.
Lastly, House Resolution 744 calls on the governments of the United
Kingdom and Ireland to work together to achieve full implementation of
the Good Friday Agreement.
The language of the resolution puts a shared onus on both sides,
Nationalists and Unionists alike, to take the difficult next steps that
will move the peace process forward and lead to the implementation of
the Good Friday Agreement.
Madam Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation that
provides support for the Northern Ireland peace process at a critical
time.
Again, I commend Chairman Hyde for introducing this resolution and
for quickly bringing it to the floor for consideration.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I would
first like to thank my good friends and colleagues, Chairman Hyde and
Congressman Chris Smith, for their tireless advocacy of peace and
justice in Northern Ireland.
Madam Speaker, over the past several years the peace process in
Northern Ireland has taken many twists and turns. The Good Friday
Accord, designed to bring an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland,
has been declared dead time and again. During the past few months,
however, we have witnessed very promising developments in our efforts
to fully implement the Good Friday Accord, which was signed almost 8
years ago.
In July of last year, the Irish Republican Army announced that it
would forswear violence. The IRA followed up on that announcement by
decommissioning a substantial portion of its weapons cache last fall.
After these dramatic events, we all hoped and expected that the Good
Friday Accord would be fully implemented.
It is becoming increasingly clear now that we have reached another
impasse. Sinn Fein has refused to support the police in Northern
Ireland or to encourage Catholic Republicans to join the police
service. The Democratic Unionist Party has refused to enter local
government with Sinn Fein or even to talk with them.
Meanwhile, Madam Speaker, despite the positive moves on the part of
Sinn Fein, the Unionist paramilitary groups have yet to follow up with
a no-violence pledge and disarmament agreement.
Our resolution addresses all of these outstanding issues. It
challenges all the parties to renounce violence and to disarm, and it
calls on all sides to fully engage in police reform.
Madam Speaker, after many setbacks, substantial pressure has finally
developed to fully implement the Good Friday Accord. Our resolution is
designed to support this forward movement and to help pave the way to a
time when the conflict in Northern Ireland is only a subject for the
history books.
I strongly support this resolution, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), who chairs the Friends of Ireland
Committee and who has played such a central role on Irish issues in
this Congress.
Mr. WALSH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa for
yielding time to me and for his leadership on all issues relating to
the International Relations Committee. I would especially like to thank
Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their leadership and the
entire International Relations Committee and their staff for their hard
work and effort in getting this important resolution to the floor at
such a critical period in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The timing of this resolution could not be more appropriate. We are
fast approaching the eighth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement,
and recent media reporting suggests that the British and Irish
governments are working to restore a devolved government that has been
under suspension since the police raids and the Unionist walkout of
October 2002.
As one of 35 million Irish Americans in this country, I can't tell
you how pleased and encouraged I am with these developments. For far
too long, the people of Northern Ireland have been denied an equal
voice and equal representation in government. It is time for the
Assembly and Executive to be up and running and the people's business
to be addressed.
Her island's citizens have spoken. They expressed their views for a
shared future by overwhelmingly approving the Good Friday Accords by a
margin of 95 percent in the Republic of Ireland and 71 percent in
Northern Ireland. It is time for Northern Ireland's political
leadership to acknowledge their wishes and fully carry them out.
In the last few years, progress has been spotty, but, nonetheless,
there has been progress. That progress must continue without any
backward steps or delays. I believe recognizing a few key leaders that
have nurtured this progress can help highlight and strengthen this
initiative.
First I would commend Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain and

[[Page H1409]]

the Republic of Ireland's Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Northern Ireland has
no better friend than these two men. They have been understanding to
all viewpoints and fair to all political denominations and respectful
of all traditions. They have been firm in conviction and steadfast in
their beliefs; and, most importantly, they have been true leaders
committed to a lasting peace. Both men deserve recognition and praise
for their work.
Second, the leadership of Sinn Fein for their role in facilitating
the complete decommissioning of the IRA's weaponry. This was certainly
no small task. Sinn Fein has never received the full credit it deserves
for delivering this historic moment. Sinn Fein made the commitment, the
commitment was delivered in full, and that commitment has been verified
by the International Monitoring Commission and the International
Commission on Decommissioning led by General de Chastelain.
I have read reports of individuals being skeptical and wary of this
declaration, but the facts speak for themselves. The IRA has abandoned
its armed struggle in pursuit of its goals by political means. This
must be fully acknowledged. Continued challenge does nothing but
obstruct and inhibit the peace process.
I would like to add also, Madam Speaker, that the members of the
Democratic Unionist Party, the DUP, led by Dr. Ian Paisley, will be
here today meeting with Members of Congress, and we welcome them. We
are delighted that they are here. We are excited about hearing their
vision for the future of Northern Ireland, and they will be here to
express that and develop personal relationships. Many of them are
members of Parliament, in addition to being elected members of the
legislative assembly in Northern Ireland.
Finally, the Policing Service in Northern Ireland, under the
leadership of Hugh Orde and Nuala O'Loan, deserves recognition.
Northern Ireland has experienced a dramatic improvement in policing
over the last 8 years, with the current Catholic to Protestant
employment percentage up 18 percent since the restructuring, and the
police recruit ratio holding firm at 50-50.
It is imperative that people in all communities recognize that the
Policing Service, while not perfect, is certainly not the Policing
Service of old. They must begin to develop a relationship of trust and
confidence in their police. It is only through this type of
relationship that the community will be best served.

{time} 1445

Madam Speaker, again it gives me great pleasure to stand before you
today in order to praise the Good Friday Agreement as the framework for
peace in Northern Ireland and to recognize the remarkable progress that
has been achieved.
I would also like to recognize the efforts of all the Members of
Congress, House and Senate, and Presidents of both parties for their
commitment to this process. I commend the efforts of all past leaders
who have put personal and political ramifications aside for the greater
good of Northern Ireland and urge all current leaders to continue to
move forward. I urge adoption of this resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to our distinguished
colleague and my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.
McCarthy).
Mrs. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from California
for bringing this important legislation and resolution to the floor and
I thank my colleagues that have been working on this for years.
I have been in Congress for 10 years now and during that 10 years we
have been working on peace in Ireland. Many of us that are Irish call
it ``the troubles'' which have continued over these years. And every
time there seemed to have been a little bit of sunlight and we actually
thought that peace would finally come to Northern Ireland, and we
certainly fought and worked for that. But the Good Friday Agreement is
certainly an important piece of legislation and it gave the goal and
certainly the hope to the people of Ireland, and I think that is
probably the most important thing.
There have been many bumps in the road over the years with the Good
Friday Agreement, but it was the people of Northern Ireland, it was the
people that basically said, let's go forward. So each time that we saw,
as I call it, a bump in the road or a stop sign, it was the people of
Ireland that said let's go forward. I happen to think we are at the
crossroads now. And I happen to think that with all the people here in
Congress especially, I support the things that have been said from my
colleagues that we are honestly going to see hopefully peace come.
Ireland economically has done very well and we will continue to
support them to do that. But I have to say when the IRA agreed to give
up its weapons last February, I think that was certainly the biggest
step that we could have asked. The people remain cautious in Ireland,
but I do believe the IRA is showing good faith.
In February the Independent Monitoring Commission released a report.
The report found that security forces believe that the IRA held on to
weapons and is still intelligence gathering. In spite of that, the IMC
stated that the IRA seemed to be moving in the right direction.
It is important that the people in Ireland who are working towards
peace know that they have the support of the United States in these
efforts. I encourage the Irish people to continue their work in the
peace process, and I am proud to support this legislation.
We here in Congress carry a great deal of weight. The people of
Ireland do trust us. They appreciate us being with them during the good
times and the bad times. I would like to say thank you to my colleague,
Mr. Walsh, for all the great work in bringing us over to Ireland to
meet with all political groups so we can try to see peace in our
lifetime.
The Policing Commission has always been a stumbling stone, and yet
when we have gone there and we have met and we have seen young Irish
Catholic men and women joining the police force and the same on the
Protestant side and learning how to be together, there is great hope in
the future for all of us. But Northern Ireland and Ireland is going to
win in the end, and the United States, I am happy to say, had a lot to
do with that.
Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who has been such a leader on so
many issues, including those that relate to Ireland.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend,
Chairman Leach, for yielding me time and for his leadership on this and
on so many other resolutions and initiatives as well on behalf of human
rights.
Mr. Lantos, it is great to see you again on the floor, not
unexpected. You are always here fighting the good fight on behalf of
human rights.
Madam Speaker, I especially want to commend Chairman Hyde for
offering this resolution. I am very proud to be one of the original
cosponsors of it. It is a collaborative effort that strongly restates
U.S. support for the Good Friday Agreement signed 8 years ago this
month.
Madam Speaker, the Hyde resolution also underscores our unyielding
support for the establishment of peace, justice, reconciliation and
prosperity in Northern Ireland which we have all hoped for and we have
all prayed for. While we are not there yet there has been some very
encouraging signs.
On March 15, Madam Speaker, I chaired my eleventh hearing on the
Northern Ireland peace process. All of these hearings have been
comprehensive and insightful but this one was the first since the IRA's
full renunciation of arms struggle and the decommissioning of its
weapons.
Our resolution today makes note of that historic milestone, a
remarkable development in the path to peace. Of course, equally
significant for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is
true, durable and transparent police reform. Here, too, Madam Speaker,
there has been progress.
Today there is a vigorous and fiercely independent Police Ombudsman's
Office, whose chief, Nuala O'Loane, has been a catalyst for reform.
There is now a Policing Board in Northern Ireland composed of
independent and party representatives to design and provide civilian
control and fair nonsectarian policing. The Chairman, Sir Desmond Rea,
and retiring Vice Chairman, Dennis Bradley, testified at our

[[Page H1410]]

most recent hearing. There is a new Historical Enquiries Team
established by the PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, which will provide a
thorough and independent examination of unresolved deaths that occurred
in connection with the troubles from 1968 to 1989.
H. Res. 744 rightly commends Nuala O'Loane, Sir Hugh, and the new
policing institutions for the progress that they have made, often under
very adversarial conditions. Even with these improvements, Madam
Speaker, significant work further remains to be done in order to ensure
acceptance by all the communities of the PSNI. A key stumbling block to
that greater acceptance has been the lack of resolution of charges of
official collusion in the murder of human rights lawyer Patrick
Finucane. In 2001 the British and Irish governments jointly appointed
Judge Peter Cory, a preeminent retired justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada, to determine whether independent commissions should investigate
possible state-sponsored collusion in six notorious and horrific
murders. They also pledge to abide by his recommendations.
Two years ago Judge Cory, and he too testified at one point before
our committee, 2 years ago he issued his report; and it called for five
of the six murderers to be investigated independently. Yet, I am sorry
to say, the British government has still not appointed an inquiry
commission into the murder of the human rights attorney, Pat Finucane,
who was gunned down in his home in front of his wife and three small
children in 1989.
Every one of the 11 hearings that I have chaired on human rights and
police reform in Northern Ireland has dealt with Pat Finucane's murder
in whole or in part, yet still nothing has been done. The U.K.
government must find a way to institute a credible inquiry which will
be stepped by all, by Judge Cory, the Irish Republic, by the world
community, but most of all, by the Finucane family.
If the population of Northern Ireland is to cease relying on
paramilitaries for protection, which they absolutely must do, they must
never rely on that, and transfer its trust to the police, it must have
the confidence that the police and the authorities deserve trust. That
is the major reason why these inquiries must be done and done right as
soon as possible.
Again, I want to commend Chairman Hyde, Chairman Gallegly, Mr. Walsh,
Mr. King, of course Mr. Lantos again, and Chairman Leach, and also many
of our staffs, including Mary Noonan, Richard Mereu and Dennis Curry
for their work in writing and crafting this resolution which will put
us in a bipartisan way on record for saying that the peace process must
continue and the Good Friday Agreement must be fully implemented.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I want to commend all of my colleagues who
have worked on this legislation. We have no further requests for time
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, but I
would like to conclude with just one reference to a distinguished
American that is a member of your side, Senator George Mitchell, who
did so much to work to achieve and develop the accord that we are now
referencing in this resolution.
Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this
legislation introduced by Chairman Hyde.
Chairman Hyde, I would like to commend you for your continued support
of the Good Friday Agreement and a lasting peace in the north of
Ireland.
A few weeks ago during the Saint Patrick's Day festivities I had an
opportunity to meet with many of the actors involved in creating a
lasting peace in the north of Ireland.
When I met with the Taoiseach and Gerry Adams about the ongoing
situation, I stressed the importance of bringing about representational
government to the people of the north.
It has been over three years since free and fair elections took place
in the north.
The people spoke and elected leaders to represent them, but I am sad
to say when they went to the voting booth in November of 2003, their
vote was not respected.
This issue needs to move forward so the people of the north can
finally have democratic rule.
If a true and lasting peace is ever to be achieved the people must be
able to feel they are invested in the process.
All parties must begin to put aside their differences and work toward
the common goal of peace and reconciliation in the north.
This battle has been allowed to go on for too long with seemingly
both sides knowing what the other is doing.
The IRA has lived up to its obligations and fully decommissioned and
now it is time for Unionist paramilitary groups to for their example.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and would
urge all of my colleagues to send a strong message to the parties
involved in the peace process.
The House of Representatives is engaged and would like to forward
movement.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution.
In doing so, I want to commend the tremendous work of an organization
known as the Washington Ireland Program, or ``WIP.'' Every year since I
came to Congress in 1999, I have hosted a WIP student and I have found
these students from both the North and the Republic of Ireland to be
exceptional future leaders. WIP is a six-month program of personal and
professional development that brings outstanding Protestant and
Catholic university students from Northern Ireland and the Republic of
Ireland to Washington, DC, for summer internships and leadership
training. The program begins and ends with practical service in
Northern Ireland and Ireland. In Washington, participants get firsthand
experience with U.S. government and politics and an immersion in
American culture by living with area Host Families. Through an intense
eight-week schedule, young people from different sides of the political
divide are challenged to work and learn as a team and to create an
environment of mutual respect. The program aims to send students home
with enhanced professional interpersonal skills and a new confidence in
their own leadership abilities which they are expected to demonstrate
through service to their own communities.
To date, 300 young adults have graduated from the program. Many WIP
graduatess moved into important careers in politics, business, media,
and education. These include: a research officer to the NI First
Minister in Westminster; television and radio news journalists;
reporters for major newspapers in Belfast and London; barristers and
solicitors; university professors and primary school teachers;
consultants with Accenture and Price WaterhouseCoopers; Dublin PR firm
managers; assistant to Members of the NI Assembly and the Irish
Parliament; political party operatives in Northern Ireland and the
Republic; and Executive Officer for the Home Office in London.
This dynamic program should serve as a model for many of the
geographically and religiously conflicted areas around the world. WIP
is helping to ensure a lasting peace throughout the Emerald Isle. I
congratulate its officials, staff, and volunteers, and hope that my
colleagues will join me in supporting its efforts in the years to come.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong and
enthusiastic favor of H. Res. 744, which expresses support for the Good
Friday Agreement of 1998 as the blueprint for lasting peace in Northern
Ireland and support for continued police reform in Northern Ireland as
a critical element in the peace process.
Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have been a strong supporter of
reinforcing the strong ties between Ireland and the United States. As a
member of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, one of my top goals is
the achievement of peace, justice, human rights, and political
stability in Northern Ireland.
Since the completion of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the U.S.
has worked with all interested parties to help with its implementation.
With over 40 million Americans being of Irish heritage, it is vital
that the United States continue to play an active role in this process
and contribute both the political and economic support needed to ensure
that peace continues in Northern Ireland.
Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the efforts of the involved
parties who are working daily to make the promise of the Good Friday
Agreement a reality. In recent months, there has been a promising
softening of the Unionist position with relatively more favorable
comments toward the Agreement. And, of course, the Sinn Fein has backed
and overseen the IRA's abandonment of its armed campaign.
These are exciting steps toward a sustained and lasting peace in
Northern Ireland. And, I remain very hopeful that the parties can make
further progress toward a fully functioning government that operates in
regular order to meet the needs of the Irish people.
I commend the Irish people on all of its successes and hard work and
encourage all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to offer H. Res. 744,
which expresses

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support for the Good Friday Agreement as the blueprint for lasting
peace in Northern Ireland and support for continued police reform in
Northern Ireland as a critical element in the peace process. I
compliment the work of Subcommittee Chairmen Elton Gallegly and
Christopher Smith for improving and making the originally-introduced
version even more constructive and stronger on policing. The Good
Friday Agreement needs U.S. support and a push to fully implement all
of its terms.
On the important issue of policing reform, the resolution before us
wisely reflects the overall view of the Independent Monitoring
Commission (IMC) for the north of Ireland, which has closely monitored
paramilitary activities and made many critical suggestions for reform
and change, especially in the area of a new beginning on policing.
The IMC is made up of highly respected representatives appointed by
both the Irish and British Governments, and includes an American as
well. In its May 2005 report to the two governments and interested
parties, the IMC stated some key findings on the responsibilities of
all of the political parties on criminal justice, and it has just
reiterated these again in its February 2006 report.
The IMC said that all the parties should, among other things:
``Give credible vocal and practical support to all parts of the
criminal justice system, including policing . . .''
``Play a full and constructive role in the participative organs of
the criminal justice system, such as the Policing Board and the
District Policing Partnerships.''
These are some wise and constructive suggestions, which this
resolution supports and fully endorses. We would encourage Sinn Fein
and all the parties in the north to honor and live by these ideas for a
better, more secure and democratic north of Ireland. There is no place
for violence in the process.
Finally, my resolution also calls on both the Irish and British
governments to fully implement the important Patten Commission police
reform provision which calls for senior-level police officer exchanges
between the Republic of Ireland and the Police Service of Northern
Ireland (PSNI). These exchanges are clearly needed so that some of the
cultural, religious, and other long-standing issues dividing
communities and the police in the north can fully benefit from senior-
level understanding and diversity.
I urge adoption of the resolution.
Mr. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 744,
which honors the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 for being what I believe
is, as the resolution states, ``the blueprint for lasting peace in
Northern Ireland.''
Next Monday, April 10, 2006 will mark the 8th anniversary of the Good
Friday Agreement, which has helped to bring nearly a decade of peace to
Northern Ireland. As a result of the historic Good Friday Agreement,
there is perhaps a greater potential for lasting peace in Northern
Ireland now than perhaps ever, since the establishment of the Irish
Republic. The Good Friday Agreement has outlined a plan for peace and
reconciliation in the 21st century.
I believe the most significant result of the Good Friday Agreement
was the revival of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a devolved government
body that has facilitated important debate between the political
parties. Consequently, problems have been directly and civilly
addressed through free and open debate. Unfortunately, as my colleagues
know, due to disagreements between the political parties--the Social
Democrat and Labor Party, the Ulster Unionist Party, the Democratic
Unionist Party, and Sinn Fein--the Northern Ireland Assembly has been
suspended since October of 2002. Ever since, the British government has
taken direct control over the government to ensure stability. I would
hope all sides can agree to terms in order to allow the Assembly to be
reestablished.
Madam Speaker, I have met with the leaders of Sinn Fein, the DUP, the
UUP and the SDLP, both here in the U.S. and in Ireland. All parties
have conveyed to me that they agree it is vital for the future security
of the North that new elections be held, an Executive put in place, and
the legislative assembly reconvened. I agree with this view, and
express the support of the U.S. House of Representatives to facilitate
the peace process.
I thank the distinguished Chairman of the International Relations
Committee, Mr. Hyde, for authoring this resolution.
Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support
of H. Res. 744, a resolution that expresses support for the Good Friday
Agreement as the blueprint for lasting peace in the North of Ireland.
H. Res. 744 is an expanded version of a resolution written by my
colleagues Jim Walsh, Richard Neal, Joe Crowley, and I last November. I
appreciate Chairman Hyde sponsoring this new bill with its additional
language which I believe strengthens our initial endeavor and moving it
to the House floor promptly. I am also grateful for the opportunity to
work with the Chairman and his staff on the drafting of this
resolution.
H. Res. 744 expresses our strong commitment to the ideals of the Good
Friday Agreement, a referendum that was endorsed by an overwhelmingly
majority of the people living both in the North and the Republic of
Ireland on April 10, 1998. As we approach the 8th anniversary of this
date, I think it is important to recognize those groups and individuals
who have committed themselves to peace, justice, and equality and
worked to fully implement this agreement. Much progress has been made
since 1998 but much still more needs to be done.
First, I'd like to commend (UK) Prime Minister Tony Blair and the
(Irish) Taoiseach Bertie Ahem for their leadership in securing a
peaceful resolution in the North of Ireland. We would certainly not be
where we are today if it were not for these two great statesmen. I'd
also like to thank our own government, including both the Clinton and
Bush Administrations, for their dedication and efforts to move this
process forward. We have been lucky to have fine diplomats such as
George Mitchell, Tony Lake, Richard Haass, and Mitchell Reiss play
vital roles during the past decade.
One of the most significant changes in the North recently related to
the changes in policing. The new Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI) has adopted many of the Patten recommendations to become a much
more integrated, professional, and impartial police force. Under the
leadership of its chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde, and its ombudsman,
Nuala O'Loan, the PSNI is a much more effective and accountable law
enforcement agency that promotes human rights and fosters community
confidence.
Finally, I'd like to commend the leadership of Sinn Fein,
specifically Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, for successfully urging
the Irish Republican Army to end its armed campaign and verifiably put
all of its weapons beyond use. This was a crucial step in the peace
process to demonstrate the Republicans' commitment to an exclusively
democratic and peaceful process. There is no place for any
paramilitaries in the North of Ireland and it is my hope that the
remaining private armies will follow the IRA's lead by destroying their
weapons and signing up to the peace process.
Now is a critical time for the people and the political parties in
the North of Ireland. This Thursday the British and Irish governments
intend to publish their plans for a resumption of the Northern Ireland
Assembly and Executive. It is long past due for this government to be
back up and running. But for this to happen, all parties must agree to
share power and commit themselves to the full implementation of the
Good Friday Agreement.
Mr. LEACH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 744.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.

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