RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REUNIFICATION OF IRELAND.

Resolved by this House:

WHEREAS, Ireland is an ancient and distinct island-nation that was artificially partitioned by the United Kingdom with the Government of Ireland Act of 1920; and

WHEREAS, the partition divided the nation into Northern Ireland, which is composed of six northern counties and is one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland, which would eventually become the Republic of Ireland, and which consists of the remaining twenty-six counties; and

WHEREAS, negotiated with American support, the Belfast Agreement, commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement, was ratified by the British and Irish Governments on April 10, 1998; and

WHEREAS, the Good Friday Agreement represents a fundamental political advance that created a framework and a mechanism for further political development toward the final resolution of the Irish issue of reunification; and

WHEREAS, the partition was designed to be a transitory solution, the time has come to move toward ending the partition of Ireland in favor of a united, sovereign nation that guarantees equal rights and equal opportunities for all its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Irish Republic is a member of the European Economic Union and a unified, independent Irish economy is the most effective way to grow that economy and the most fair and impartial path to extend the benefits of such growth to all Ireland; and

WHEREAS, the United States and state of Connecticut have greatly benefited from the contributions of the sons and daughters of Ireland; and

WHEREAS, human and civic rights derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by the people's freely instituted, duly elected and independent government; and

WHEREAS, an end to partition should be supported by all democratic-minded people and people of good will; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916, the beginning of the Irish War for Independence, it is fitting that this house express its sense that Irish Americans can make a significant contribution toward achieving the goal of Irish reunification.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Connecticut House of Representatives pause in its deliberations to call upon the English and Irish governments to take immediate steps necessary to bring to fullness the promises of the unified Ireland called for and envisioned by the Good Friday Agreement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the clerk of the House of Representatives cause a copy of this resolution to be sent to the Ambassador for the Republic of Ireland, the Ambassador for the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister and the President of Ireland and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.