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) con-
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firmed 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; 
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(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 
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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 NorthSouth Ministerial Council, and the BritishIrish 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 
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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.