IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 245

Expressing the sense of Congress that the settlement of the decades-long

conflict in the North of Ireland should address a number of specific

issues in order to foster a just and lasting peace.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 17, 1998

Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. MANTON, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, and Mr. WALSH) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the settlement of

the decades-long conflict in the North of Ireland should

address a number of specific issues in order to foster

a just and lasting peace.

Whereas Irish people living in the North of Ireland are entitled to the same full national and democratic rights of

Irish citizenship as Irish people living elsewhere in Ireland;

Whereas all people living in the North of Ireland are entitled

to receive equality of treatment with one another;

Whereas providing these rights is a prerequisite to any negotiated settlement to the conflict in the North of Ireland;
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•HCON 245 IH

Whereas providing these rights requires the British Government to act to ensure that these rights are embodied in

specific measures of legislation and administration;

Whereas there can be no internal solution to the conflict in

the North of Ireland and no return to the Stormont government with its inbuilt Unionist domination and denial

of civil rights;

Whereas the nationalist community in the North of Ireland

is entitled to significant all-Ireland institutions with cooperative, executive, and advisory powers;

Whereas the Irish Government must be guaranteed a role in

all legislative and executive decisions affecting the lives of

the people living in the North of Ireland; and

Whereas there is currently a great opportunity for a peaceful

resolution of the conflict in the North of Ireland: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the set3 tlement of the decades-long conflict in the North of Ire4 land should address the following issues within the frame5 work of any negotiated settlement of such conflict in order

6 to foster a just and lasting peace:

7 (1) All emergency legislation should be re8 pealed.

9 (2) Reform of all aspects of the legal system

10 should be established, including reform of civil and

11 criminal law, the judiciary, the conduct of the

12 courts, and the operation of the prison service.
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•HCON 245 IH

1 (3) An accountable and representative police

2 service that is acceptable to both Nationalists and

3 Unionists should be established.

4 (4) All forms of discrimination in the North of

5 Ireland should be abolished and explicit, time bound

6 measures to redress existing inequalities should be

7 established.

8 (5) Economic justice should become a reality,

9 not merely a promise.

10 (6) The equality of the Irish language and cul11 ture should be established and maintained.

12 (7) All political prisoners of both traditions

13 being held with respect to the conflict in the North

14 of Ireland should be released as soon as possible.

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