[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 744 Engrossed in House (EH)]
H. Res. 744
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 4, 2006.
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.
Attest:
Clerk.