[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SUPPORT ACT OF 2003, H.R. 
                                  1208

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 31, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for 
H.R. 1208, the Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Act of 2003. 
The International Fund for Ireland was established in 1985 to help 
bolster economic development and support programs that would foster 
peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the affected border 
areas of the Republic of Ireland. The United States has contributed 
more than $386 million to the fund to help improve relations between 
Catholic and Protestants in Northern Ireland through the creation of 
jobs and cross-community business development. Over 80 percent of the 
fund's investment has been in disadvantaged areas offering work 
experiences and job training programs for disadvantaged and unemployed 
youth.
  Since 1969, over 3200 people have died as a result of political 
violence in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The 
conflict, which has it origins in the 1921 division of Ireland, has 
reflected a struggle between different nationals, cultures, and 
religious identities. The Protestant majority in Northern Ireland 
defines itself as British and largely supports continued incorporation 
in the United Kingdom, and are called unionists. The Catholic minority 
considers itself Irish and many Catholics desire a united Ireland, and 
are referred to as nationalists.
  In 1998, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, helped 
broker the ``Good Friday Agreement'' between and among the government 
of Ireland, the government of the United Kingdom, and political party 
leaders representing Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.
  The requested $25 million over the next five years will go a long way 
to carry out the accords of the Good Friday agreement. A large part of 
this effort is for programs that enhance relations between communities 
and between the police and the communities they serve, promote human 
rights training for police, and promote training programs to enhance 
the new district partnership police boards recommended by the Patten 
Commission.
  Successive U.S. Administrations and the U.S. Congress have seen 
economic development as key to fostering peace in Northern Ireland. 
Support for the paramilitaries has been strongest in the communities 
suffering the highest level of unemployment and economic deprivation; 
thus, many see the creation of jobs and economic opportunity as on par 
with working out a political solution to the conflict in Northern 
Ireland. Critics of U.S. assistance to the region argue that the 
European Union, not the United States, is the appropriate source of aid 
and further that private investment, rather than aid, is central to job 
creation. Supporters of the aid program, including many Members of 
Congress, see aid and investment as complementary, with aid often 
serving as a good catalyst for investment. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong 
supporter of the aid program.
  Mr. Speaker, all major social and economic indicators show that 
Catholics in Northern Ireland are disadvantaged relative to 
Protestants. The most persistent area of inequality has been 
employment. Catholics experience rates of unemployment over twice as 
high as Protestants, and Catholics are more likely than Protestants to 
experience long-term unemployment.
  The British government sees inward investment and the creation of 
employment opportunities, linked to its fair employment legislation, as 
the best antidote to Catholic unemployment. Others believe 
implementation of the Mac Bride Principles would provide an important 
remedy. Introduced in 1984, the Mac Bride Principles are nine equal 
opportunity/affirmative action principles, intended to promote 
employment options for members of underrepresented religious groups in 
Northern Ireland. Among other things, the Principles call for 
provocative religious or political emblems to be banned from the 
workplace; for all job openings to be publicly advertised with special 
recruitment efforts to attract applicants from underrepresented groups; 
and for adequate security at the workplace.
  For years, the British and Irish governments sought a formula that 
would facilitate a peaceful settlement. After many ups and downs, the 
British and Irish governments and the eight parties participating in 
peace talks announced agreement on a political settlement on April 10, 
1998. The agreement recognizes the consent principle, namely, change in 
the status of Northern Ireland can only come about with the consent of 
the majority of its people. Voters in Northern Ireland and the Republic 
of Ireland approved the accords in referendums held on May 22. 
Elections to the new Assembly took place on June 25.
  Mr. Speaker, the implementation of the peace agreement has been 
difficult. I applaud the efforts of leaders in the United Kingdom, 
Ireland, and Northern Ireland for their efforts in furthering peace and 
reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

                          ____________________