Reference Code: 2016/52/51

Creation Dates: 16 March 1986

Extent and medium: 3 pages

Creator(s): Department of the Taoiseach

Accession Conditions: Open

Copyright: National Archives, Ireland. May only be reproduced with the written permission of the Director of the National Archives. • EMBARGO 12 noon, e Sunday, 16 March FRIENDS OF IRELAND ST PATRICK'S DAY STATEMENT 1".ARCH l 7 1986

have a special reason to Irish Americans and indeed all Americans years of strife and turmoil in commemorate this St Patrick's Day, After 17 lasting and just peace may finally Northern Ireland, there is real hope that a be achieved, progress toward our Over the past year we have witnessed substantial betwe~n the conflicting long-standing hope to achieve reconciliation establish democratic political traditions of Northern Ireland and to of the community. structures which will accommodate both sides endorsed the principles of As Friends of Ireland in the Congress, we settlement to the crisis the New Ireland Forum Report of 1984 for a negotiated whose courag~ __aJ;ld ~c:o.mmi tment to in Northern Ireland. We commend · all those culminated in the signing of the historic Anglo-Irish peace and reconciliation by Prime Minister last November at Hillsborough in Northern Ireland Agreement Margaret - Thatcher of Great Garret Fi tzGerald of Ireland_ and Prime Minister Britain, overdue step toward full We welcome this agreement as a long in Northern Ireland and as a recognition of the rights of both traditions political and economic instability hopeful opportunity to end the violence and e havoc on the region's economy in that has cost over 2,500 lives and wreaked violence as a means of achieving the past two decades. The agreement rejects and British governments to an political ends and commits both the Irish in Northern Ireland. ongoing process to achieve peace and stability in the accord of an Friends of Ireland welcome the inclusion The to day affairs of role for the Irish Government in the day unprecedented reasonable and needed Ireland, We believe that this provision offers Northern legitimate rights and to the minority Catholic community that its reassurance of justice, will be interests, particularly in relation to the administration clearly recognized and fully protected. with both Britain The has a long and close relationship helping these two friends Ireland and can play an important role in and President Reagan's support for achieve peace in Northern Ireland. We welcome assistance to Northern Ireland, the accord and bis proposal for ~.S. financial expeditiously on legislation to and we urge the Congress to act favorably and provide such assistance. in Northern -Ireland _ and Finally, we renew our condemnation of those or engage in violence in any in the United States who advocate, support, form or by any means.

©NAI/TSCH/2016/52/51 • On this St. Patrick's Dey, we again express our commitment to the greet goal of Irish unity, achieved by peaceful methods, end we pledge in the coming e year to continue our efforts for peace and reconciliation, and for a new Ireland free from violence, intolerance, and discrimination. The events of 1985 laid a workable foundation for peace and a durable settlement of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and we urge all sides to build on that foundation .in 1986.

UNITED STATES SENATE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Edward M. Kennedy Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Daniel P. Moynihan Jim Wright Max S. Baucus Thomas Foley Joseph R. Biden Edward Boland Jeff Bingaman Joseph McDade Thomas F. Eagleton Brian Donnelly Alan J. Dixon Peter Kostmeyer Christopher J. Dodd Bill Lowery John F. Kerry Lane Evans Paul Laxalt Frank Annunzio Patrick Leahy Henry Nowak Carl M. Levin Tony Coelho Howard M. Metzenbaum Robert Mrazek William Proxmire Frank McCloskey Donald W. Riegle Nick Rahall Paul Simon William Coyne Pete Wilson Thomas Downey Robert T. Stafford Edward Madigan Orrin G. Hatch William Hughes John Glenn Marjorie Holt Albert Gore John Miller David Durenberger Rod Chandler Alfonse D'Amato Frederick Boucher Lowell P. Weicker Bill Ford Tom Daschle Farren Mitchell Charles Hayes Bill Clay

©NAI/TSCH/2016/52/51 • \lN]TtP STATrS }l(l\l Sf ()f RF.rRr.sr.t-TATlVES Ron de LUEO Patricia Schroeder Sam Cejdeneon e Thomae Carper Peter Rodino David Boni or Robert Matsui Leon Panetta Butler Derrick Crank Guarini Alan Jllollohan Dante Faecell John La Falce Norm Y.ineta Edward Markey Joseph Kolter Robert Torricelli Sala Burton Howard Berman Stephen Solarz John Seiberling Henry Waxman Stan Lundine Lee Aepin Carroll Hubbard Doug Walgren Ted Weise Harold Ford Joseph Moakley Jim Slattery Gary Ackerman Robert Lagomarsino Silvio Conte Walter Faun troy Bill Alexander Neil Smith Barbara Kennely Thomae Petri Nicholas Mavroulee Don Bonker Gerald Kleczka Jan Meyers Roy Dyson Robert Traxler Matthew Martinez Edvard Feighan Bill Green Paul Kanjorski William Lehman Ken Gray Frank Horton Chester Atkins Bernard Dwyer Dennis Hertel Marty Russo Pat Williams Al Swift Don Edwards Norm DickE Marcy Kaptur Joseph Early Thomae Manton Lynn Martin George Wortley Mel Levine Stewart McKinney Tom .Lentos Sid Morrison Austin Murphy Charles Schumer Edward Madigan Matt McHugh Martin Sabo Robert Wise Lindy Boggs David Obey Raymond McGrath William Richardson

©NAI/TSCH/2016/52/51