IV 

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; 


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•HRES 744 IH 

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 


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•HRES 744 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the House of Representatives— 

3 (A) reiterates its support for the Good Fri4 day Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, in 

5 Belfast, as the blueprint for a lasting peace in 

6 Northern Ireland; 

7 (B) commends the Prime Minister of the 

8 United Kingdom Tony Blair and the Irish 

9 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for their leadership and 

10 persistence in seeking a peaceful resolution in 

11 Northern Ireland; 

12 (C) commends the Sinn Fein leadership in 

13 successfully urging the Irish Republican Army 

14 to end its armed struggle and verifiably put its 

15 weapons beyond use; 

16 (D) commends Sir Hugh S. Orde, Chief 

17 Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ire18 land (PSNI), for his leadership and for working 

19 to protect both communities; 


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•HRES 744 IH 

1 (E) commends the PSNI for the institution 

2 of the Historical Enquiries Team, which will 

3 provide a thorough and independent examina4 tion of unresolved deaths that occurred in con5 nection with the Troubles from 1968 to 1989; 

6 (F) commends Nuala O’Loan and the Po7 lice Ombudsman’s Office for the work they have 

8 done in promoting human rights in law enforce9 ment and in fostering community confidence in 

10 the PSNI; and 

11 (G) commends the work of the Northern 

12 Irish Policing Board and its District Partner13 ships for promoting genuine community policing 

14 in Northern Ireland; and 

15 (2) it is the sense of the House of Representa16 tives that— 

17 (A) all groups and organizations should 

18 end their involvement in paramilitary activity; 

19 (B) all political parties in Northern Ireland 

20 should— 

21 (i) agree to share power with all par22 ties according to the democratic mandate 

23 of the Good Friday Agreement; and 

24 (ii) commit to work in good faith with 

25 all the institutions of the Good Friday 


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1 Agreement, which established the Northern 

2 Ireland Assembly and an inclusive Execu3 tive, the North-South Ministerial Council, 

4 and the British-Irish Inter-Governmental 

5 Conference, for the benefit of all the people 

6 of Northern Ireland; 

7 (C) since policing reform is a significant 

8 part of winning public confidence and accept9 ance in the new form of government in North10 ern Ireland, all political parties should cooper11 ate fully with the PSNI in preventing and in12 vestigating crimes; and 

13 (D) the Government of the United King14 dom and the Government of Ireland should 

15 work to achieve full implementation of the Good 

16 Friday Agreement, including devolution of po17 licing and justice, the normalization of the secu18 rity presence, and of the Independent Commis19 sion on Policing in Northern Ireland reforms, 

20 including long-term senior-level exchanges be21 tween the Garda Siochana, the police service of 

22 the Republic of Ireland, and the PSNI. 

Æ 


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