"St. Patrick's Day is a great opportunity for all Irish Americans to celebrate the rich tradition of their Irish culture," Senator Collins said. "It is also a time to address the need for peace and justice in Northern Ireland, which can be achieved through full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement."
Following is the text of the Senators' statement:
The Friends of Ireland in the Congress join 38 million Irish Americans in celebrating the unique ties between America and the island of Ireland. We welcome the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to the United States, and we send our warmest greetings to all the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Irish Americans care deeply about Northern Ireland, and we commend President Bush for his efforts to keep the American government involved in the pursuit of peace.
In 1998, the parties to the Good Friday Agreement committed to "partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis" for moving forward. We continue to believe that inclusive power sharing -- based on those three defining qualities -- is essential to the viability and advancement of the democratic process in Northern Ireland.
A political system based on inclusive power sharing requires trust and confidence. The parties to the Good Friday Agreement also affirmed their "total and absolute commitment to exclusively democratic and peaceful means…"
The allegations of IRA responsibility for the bank robbery in Belfast in Northern Ireland last December have seriously undermined the trust and confidence that are essential to advance the process. The January murder of Robert McCartney by members of the IRA – and the subsequent IRA call for vigilante justice -- has further undermined that trust.
Robbery and murder are despicable acts of criminality, and we condemn them and their perpetrators in the strongest possible terms. We deplore the tragic setback they have caused for the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Fein is at an historic crossroads. It cannot be a fully functioning democratic party with the albatross of the IRA around its neck. There is no place for paramilitary and criminal activity in a democratic party. As the only significant elected party with a paramilitary wing in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein has a unique responsibility to take the gun and criminality out of politics once and for all. To this end, we look forward to completion of decommissioning by the IRA and to an announcement that the IRA will cease to exist as a paramilitary organization and to Sinn Fein working cooperatively with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It has been seven years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, and the time for these decisive and final acts is long over-due.
Clearly, there is essential work to be done in ending all paramilitary activity, permanently restoring the democratic institutions, progressing with demilitarization, and advancing an equality agenda. But without dramatic action for peace by the IRA, we fail to see how progress can be made.
Since the Democratic Unionist Party became the majority Unionist party in Northern Ireland, it has often been unclear as to whether it would be willing to share power with Sinn Fein under any circumstances. Statements by DUP members have often been conflicting on this key issue, as have statements on their acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement. It is important that the DUP share power with Sinn Fein and all parties, and commit itself to working in a Northern Ireland Assembly that embraces the Good Friday Agreement and works cooperatively for all the people of Northern Ireland.
We commend the Irish and British Governments for their ongoing efforts to work with the political leaders in Northern Ireland to restore the trust and confidence that are essential to advance the peace. On this St. Patrick''s Day, we look forward to the day when the Good Friday Agreement will be finally and fully implemented, and to the day when stable democratic institutions, peace, and justice will be achieved in Northern Ireland.
SENATE FRIENDS OF IRELAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Edward M. Kennedy Christopher J. Dodd Susan M. Collins