[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12388-12389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE DEVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 14, 2007

  Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
join my colleagues here in the House in congratulating the people of 
Northern Ireland on the formation of their own duly elected government.
  This remarkable achievement, the formal implementation of the Good 
Friday Agreement, sends a message of hope to the entire world. In 
Martin McGuinness's words, ``This marks an end to 800 years of 
conflict.'' Surely if the Irish can reach a peaceful conclusion to 
their differences other troubled places around the world should 
celebrate the possibilities for themselves.
  Much credit goes to the political leadership of Sinn Fein and the 
Democratic Unionist Party. Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness showed 
great courage in leading their Nationalist side. Rev. Ian Paisley, 
noted for saying no, said yes to an agreement he helped construct. 
British Prime Minister Blair and Irish Prime Minister Ahern never lost 
focus or patience.
  For America it was a wonderful foreign policy success. President Bush 
and Clinton played important and constructive roles. In the

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Congress, both houses linked arms and worked together. It was a case of 
everyone sticking together with one purpose.
  But the most credit should go to the people of Northern Ireland who 
expressed their hope for the future, first by supporting (as did the 
Republic) the Good Friday Agreement and most recently by giving Sinn 
Fein and DUP leaders a mandate to proceed. Optimism was expressed in 
the vote and the leaders need to move forward and do the hard work of 
governing.
  I know all Americans join together with our Irish friends in 
celebrating this miraculous achievement.

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