IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 74 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 29, 2008 

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Honoring the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, for 

his service to the people of Ireland and to the world 

and welcoming the Prime Minister to the United States. 

Whereas the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives are saddened that the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, has announced that he will resign on 

May 6, 2008; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern has served the people of Ireland with distinction for many years and has been an extraordinary friend to the United States throughout his 

years in office; 

Whereas during his extensive period of public service, Prime 

Minister Ahern has made significant contributions to an 

unprecedented era of peace, prosperity, and progress in 

Ireland; 


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SCON 74 RFH 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern entered politics in 1977 and 

has been elected 10 times in the past 31 years by the 

people of Dublin Central; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern was elected leader of Fianna 

Fa ́il in 1994 and became Prime Minister in 1997; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern is the second-longest-serving 

Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, in the history of Ireland, 

and the second-longest-serving leader of Fianna Fa ́il; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern is the first Taoiseach since 

1944 to be elected on 3 successive occasions; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern has been fully committed to 

strengthening the economy of Ireland and, under his 

leadership, Ireland became more prosperous than at any 

time in the history of the country and became world-renowned as the ‘‘Celtic Tiger’’; 

Whereas the people of Ireland have benefitted from a significantly improved quality of life during Prime Minister 

Ahern’s service as Taoiseach; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern promised years ago that one 

of his highest priorities was to end the decades-long cycle 

of hatred and violence in Northern Ireland; 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern kept that promise and worked 

assiduously to achieve the peace that Northern Ireland 

enjoys today; 

Whereas the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 

Tony Blair, described Prime Minister Ahern as a ‘‘remarkable leader’’ and stated that Prime Minister Ahern 

‘‘will always be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, [and] for transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic’’; and 


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SCON 74 RFH 

Whereas Prime Minister Ahern will address a joint session of 

Congress on April 30, 2008: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That— 

3 (1) it is the sense of Congress that— 

4 (A) the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie 

5 Ahern, has been a strong and effective leader 

6 for the people of Ireland and a good friend to 

7 the United States; 

8 (B) the skillful leadership of Prime Min9 ister Ahern was indispensable in finally achiev10 ing a successful resolution of the longstanding 

11 conflict in Northern Ireland; and 

12 (C) the legacy of Prime Minister Ahern is 

13 clear and his contribution to peace is enormous; 

14 (2) Congress thanks Prime Minister Ahern on 

15 behalf of the people of the United States, wishes him 

16 well, and hopes his unique talents will be of service 

17 in resolving conflicts elsewhere in the years ahead in 

18 our divided world; and 

19 (3) the Members of the Senate and the House 

20 of Representatives look forward to paying fitting and 

21 fond tribute to Prime Minister Ahern when he adVerDate Aug 31 2005 23:22 May 01, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC74.RFH SC74

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SCON 74 RFH 

1 dresses a joint session of Congress on April 30, 

2 2008. 

Passed the Senate April 28, 2008. 

Attest: NANCY ERICKSON, 

Secretary. 


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