Friend of Ireland Statement

Statement

FRIENDS OF IRELAND STATEMENT

Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the members of the Friends of Ireland Executive Committee of the United States Congress, released the following statement in honor of St. Patrick's Day and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Northern Ireland political leaders visiting the United States.

"Nearly 40 million Americans trace their roots to Ireland. On this St. Patrick's Day, the Friends of Ireland in the United States Congress join them in celebrating the unique ties between America and the island of Ireland.

We offer a warm welcome to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and to the political leaders from Northern Ireland who are here in the United States for this important day. We commend the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Brown for their strong commitment to the peace process, which has helped transform Northern Ireland from conflict to cooperation.

Next month we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Accord, which was essential to achieving lasting peace in Northern Ireland. As the anniversary approaches, we salute the parties to the agreement and the indispensable role of others in the peace process who worked so long and hard and well to strengthen democracy and bring a future of stability to all the children of Northern Ireland.

The courageous example of the people of Northern Ireland, who chose peace and reconciliation, offers a bright lesson of hope to other troubled areas of the world.

On this St. Patrick's Day we reaffirm our strong support for the government of Northern Ireland. We urge that the final step of transferring authority for justice to the Northern Ireland Executive be taken, and we look forward to maintaining peace and prosperity in the years ahead."

FRIENDS OF IRELAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE

Nancy Pelosi Edward M. Kennedy
John Boehner Christopher J. Dodd
Richard E. Neal Susan M. Collins