(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Reiterates the House of Representatives' support for the Good Friday Agreement as the blueprint for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
Commends: (1) the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair and the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for their leadership in seeing to a peaceful resolution in Northern Ireland; (2) the Sinn Fein leadership in successfully urging the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to end its armed struggle and put its weapons beyond use; (3) the leadership of Sir Hugh S. Orde, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and the Police Service for institution of the Historical Equities Team; (4) Nuala O'Loan and the Police Ombudsman's Office for promoting human rights in law enforcement; and (5) the Northern Irish Policing Board and its District Partnerships for promoting genuine community policing in Northern Ireland.
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all groups and organizations should end their involvement in paramilitary activity; (2) all Northern Ireland political parties should agree to share power according to the democratic mandate of the Good Friday Agreement, commit to work in good faith with all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, and work toward participating with the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and (3) the government of the United Kingdom and the government of Ireland should work to fully implement the Good Friday Agreement.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 744 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 29, 2006
Mr. Hyde (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Smith
of New Jersey, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Mr.
Crowley, Mr. McCotter, Mrs. McCarthy, Mr. Payne, Mr. Sweeney, Mr.
Higgins, and Mr. Rothman) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
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.
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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Mr. Leach moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1407-1411)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 744.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1419-1420)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 1, 1 Present (Roll no. 84).(text: CR H1407)
Roll Call #84 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 1, 1 Present (Roll no. 84). (text: CR H1407)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.