[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2455-H2457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE FOR THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 222) expressing the support of the House of 
Representatives for the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 
1998, as a blueprint for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 222

       Whereas the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 
     1998, sets out a plan for the creation of the Northern 
     Ireland Assembly, and a devolved government in Northern 
     Ireland on a stable and inclusive basis;
       Whereas the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive have 
     been suspended since 2002;
       Whereas the St. Andrews Agreement of October 2006 
     established a timetable for the restoration of a power-
     sharing government in Northern Ireland;
       Whereas the St. Andrews Agreement required that ``support 
     for policing and the rule of law should be extended to every 
     part of the community'';
       Whereas on January 28, 2007, Sinn Fein held a party 
     conference during which it declared its support for the 
     Police Service of Northern Ireland and the criminal justice 
     system, consistent with the terms of the St. Andrews 
     Agreement;
       Whereas British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish 
     Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stated on January 30, 2007, that ``We 
     remain fixed in our determination to see shared government 
     returned to the people of Northern Ireland.'';
       Whereas British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for 
     elections in Northern Ireland to take place on March 7, 2007, 
     in adherence to the timeline established in the St. Andrews 
     Agreement; and
       Whereas the St. Andrews Agreement set a deadline of March 
     26, 2007, for devolved government to be restored to 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 a blueprint for a 
     lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
       (B) declares its support for the St. Andrews Agreement of 
     October 2006;
       (C) commends British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish 
     Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for their leadership and persistence 
     in seeking a peaceful resolution in Northern Ireland; and
       (D) commends all parties for abiding by the terms agreed to 
     in the St. Andrews Agreement; and
       (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
     all political parties in Northern Ireland should--

[[Page H2456]]

       (A) agree to share power with all parties according to the 
     democratic mandate of the Good Friday Agreement;
       (B) meet all deadlines established by the St. Andrews 
     Agreement; and
       (C) 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. 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, as well as 
H. Res. 228.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my good friend and 
colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York, who has been a 
passionate and tireless advocate for peace and justice in Northern 
Ireland throughout her distinguished career in Congress.
  Over the past several years, the peace process in Northern Ireland 
has taken many twists and turns. The Good Friday Agreement, designed to 
bring an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland, has been declared 
dead time and again. The Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive 
established by the Good Friday Agreement have been suspended since 
2002.
  During the past few months, however, we have witnessed incredibly 
promising developments in our efforts to fully implement the Good 
Friday Agreement, which was signed almost 9 years ago on April 10, 
1998.
  The St. Andrews Agreement of October 2006 established a firm 
timetable for the restoration of the government in Northern Ireland. In 
the agreement itself and in subsequent declarations, both sides of the 
conflict committed themselves to the rule of law, effective policing, 
and a strong criminal justice system. Most importantly, the elections 
called for by the St. Andrews Agreement were carried out successfully 
just last week.
  Now the hard work begins, Mr. Speaker. Over the next 2 weeks, 
Northern Ireland's political parties must agree to share power 
according to the democratic mandate of the Good Friday Agreement. A 
failure to reach a power sharing deal will lead to the dissolution of 
the Northern Ireland Assembly, a development which would be profoundly 
damaging to the long-term prospects for peace in Northern Ireland. With 
passage of this resolution, Congress urges Northern Ireland's political 
leaders to make the tough compromises necessary to bring about a power 
sharing arrangement. With such a deal, the great promise of the Good 
Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement can come to fruition.
  The resolution before the House is designed to support the forward 
movement towards peace and to help pave the way to a time when the 
conflict in Northern Ireland is only a subject for the history books.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this timely resolution, and reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Since 1969, over 3,200 people have died as a result of political 
violence in Northern Ireland. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement lessened 
the violence in Northern Ireland considerably, making it a safer place 
to live and allowing its beleaguered economy to prosper.
  While these developments are positive steps forward, political 
differences between the opposing sides of this conflict led to a 
stalemate, which in 2002 persuaded the Blair government to suspend the 
Belfast Northern Ireland Assembly and shift power to direct rule from 
London. Events have now presented an opportunity to move forward.
  Last week, a new Northern Ireland Assembly was elected, and at the 
end of this month, if an administration is formed, rule from 
Westminster will cease, with Northern Ireland assuming the reins of 
power for its own self-government.
  British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in expressing his fondest hopes 
for the success of the Good Friday accords, has stated, ``Enemies would 
become not just partners in progress but sit together in government, 
and paramilitaries who used to murder each other as a matter of routine 
would talk to each other and learn to live with each other.''
  Mr. Speaker, these are noble and lofty goals. While no one thought 
that they would be easy to achieve and many challenges have arisen, 
combat is now taking place in the political sphere rather than through 
violent means. Inch by inch, day by day, with focused determination, 
success is finally emerging.
  Mr. Speaker, ours is a significant voice in the global community that 
must be raised in support of the progress that has already been 
achieved, and in calling for further efforts to achieve the goals of 
the Good Friday Agreement.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy), who is the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Subcommittee 
Chairman Wexler and Ranking Member Poe.
  As the author of H.R. 222, I rise in support, as all of the members 
of the Friends of Ireland Caucus do.
  This month, the peace process of Northern Ireland has an opportunity 
to make great strides. Several significant events are taking place this 
month. On March 7, new assembly elections were held. On March 14, new 
members for a power-sharing executive will be nominated. And, finally, 
on March 26, London will rescind direct rule and restore Northern 
Ireland's devolved government.
  It has been a long road to get to this point, but restored progress 
has been made. Recently, Democratic Unionist Party leader Mr. Paisley, 
and Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams spoke directly across the floor on the 
Northern Ireland Assembly. Some people will say this was a small 
matter. For those of us that have been involved in this issue, it was a 
great stand.
  This dialogue is a major achievement in the ongoing peace process. 
However, there is still much work to be done, and this month is 
critical to ensure a successful devolution on March 26.
  President Bush's Special Envoy on Northern Ireland has recognized the 
importance of this month's events and the need for Congress to help 
galvanize the momentum to achieve the March 26 deadline.
  Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell believes a power sharing deal in 
Northern Ireland is now possible, following the March 7 assembly 
elections, but believes the U.S. still has a huge role to play in 
stimulating the investment and the trade in Northern Ireland.
  With that in mind, I have introduced the Good Friday Agreement. This 
resolution shows Congress' support for the Good Friday Agreement, 
commends the efforts of Prime Minister Blair and Irish Taoiseach Ahern 
and all the parties for abiding by the St. Andrews Agreement. H. Res. 
222 further encourages the parties to work in good faith to meet the 
Good Friday Agreement.
  Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity to make a difference in Ireland 
by helping to make sure that we keep this momentum going. But I think, 
more important, when we see the troubles throughout the world today, 
Ireland has always been something that many of us here in Congress have 
been fighting for to bring both sides together. The people of Ireland 
want this peace process to go through. It is good for the whole nation. 
We here in Congress will be going as an envoy to Ireland during the 
Easter break, hopefully to be congratulating everybody and telling them 
we will do whatever we can to make sure the government stays up and 
running. But, more importantly, it is the people of Ireland that have 
overwhelmingly on both sides said, ``We want the peace process to go 
forward.''

[[Page H2457]]

  I urge my colleagues to vote for peace in Northern Ireland and 
support H. Res. 222.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Wexler of the European 
Subcommittee for leading the discussion, and also Representative 
McCarthy from New York for sponsoring this legislation. We have no 
further speakers.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, nearly nine years ago, the 
people of Northern Ireland took a great step forward into building a 
lasting peace. The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, set forth a 
plan for establishing a peaceful civil government for both Catholics 
and Protestants.
  Today, we are close to ending an enmity that stretches back across 
centuries. With the establishment of an assembly there will be a 
substantial forum for the people of Northern Ireland to sort through 
their difference peacefully.
  The years of calm since the signing of the agreement have seen 
developments that seemed nearly impossible decades ago. The acceptance 
of the Police Service of Northern Ireland by Sinn Fein in January of 
this year marked one ofthe last hurdles to the full implementation of 
the agreement. With one neutral force to fairly administer the law, the 
people of Northern Ireland can stop seeing the police as adversaries 
and instead see them as guardians of the peace, as it should be.
  It is now critical that a final agreement be put in place so that the 
assembly can continue to meet and lead the people of Northern Ireland. 
Now that the IRA, as confirmed by third-party observers, has 
decommissioned its weapons, it is time for the Democratic Unionists to 
come together to rule in cooperation with Sinn Fein.
  With so much progress made it would be a great shame to see the 
dissolution of a body freely elected by the people of Northern Ireland. 
This Congress supports blueprint for peace signed nearly a decade ago 
and wishes to see last democracy and tranquility in Ireland.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I too want to thank Mr. Poe. And we also do 
not have any more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 222.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WEXLER. 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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