Bill Text: NJ AR236 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses support for "Martin McGuinness Principles."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-25 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR236 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR236-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for "Martin McGuinness Principles."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing support for "The Martin McGuinness Principles," which calls for the delivery of the agreements reached in the "Good Friday Agreement."
Whereas, On April 10, 1998, the British and Irish governments and the political parties of Northern Ireland, including the Sinn Fein party, signed a breakthrough accord known as the "Good Friday Agreement;" and
Whereas, The "Good Friday Agreement" provided a comprehensive framework for the political settlement of a long-standing and violent conflict between different national, cultural, and religious identities in Northern Ireland; and
Whereas, Martin McGuinness, a member of the Sinn Fein party in Northern Ireland, played an influential role in negotiating the "Good Friday Agreement;" and
Whereas, Following the "Good Friday Agreement," Martin McGuinness was elected to the new Northern Ireland Assembly and, in 1999, was appointed Minister of Education; and
Whereas, On March 7, 2007, significant political gains by both the Sinn Fein party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) during the Northern Ireland Assembly elections led to the end of direct British control of Northern Ireland through the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and reinstated home rule for Northern Ireland's 1.8 million people; and
Whereas, Martin McGuinness stood by the implementation of the "Good Friday Agreement," and committed the remainder of his life to working towards the fulfillment of its goals; and
Whereas, "The Martin McGuinness Principles," commonly referred to as the "McGuinness Principles," serves as a continuation of Martin McGuinness' efforts to fulfill the agreements reached during the "Good Friday Agreement;" and
Whereas, The "McGuinness Principles" consists of 1) equality 2) respect 3) truth and 4) self-determination for the people of Northern Ireland; and
Whereas, Given the uncertainty of the United Kingdom's future with the European Union, the "McGuinness Principles" advocates for the right of the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own future; and
Whereas, The "McGuinness Principles" highlights values that are fundamental to any free and democratic society; and
Whereas, The "McGuinness Principles" is supported and endorsed by several Irish-American organizations, such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the American Irish Historical Society, and the Irish American Unity Conference; and
Whereas, The "McGuinness Principles" has garnered bi-partisan support from members of Congress; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to express support for "The Martin McGuinness Principles," which calls for the delivery of the agreements reached in the "Good Friday Agreement;" now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House expresses support for "The Martin McGuinness Principles," which calls for the delivery of the agreements reached in the 1998 "Good Friday Agreement," an accord between the British and Irish governments and the political parties of Northern Ireland which settled a long-standing and violent conflict in Northern Ireland.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Republic of Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the United States, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses support for "The Martin McGuinness Principles," which calls for the delivery of the agreements reached in the "Good Friday Agreement." On April 10, 1998, the British and Irish governments and the political parties of Northern Ireland, including the Sinn Fein party, signed a breakthrough accord known as the "Good Friday Agreement." The accord provided a comprehensive framework for the political settlement of a long-standing and violent conflict between different national, cultural, and religious identities in Northern Ireland.
Martin McGuinness, a member of the Sinn Fein party in Northern Ireland, played an influential role in negotiating the "Good Friday Agreement." On March 7, 2007, significant political gains by both the Sinn Fein party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) during the Northern Ireland Assembly elections led to the end of direct British control of Northern Ireland through the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and reinstated home rule for its 1.8 million people.
Martin McGuinness' efforts live on through the "McGuinness Principles," which consists of equality, respect, truth, and self-determination for the people of Northern Ireland. Given the uncertainty of the United Kingdom's future with the European Union, the "McGuinness Principles" advocates for the right of the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own future.
The "McGuinness Principles" highlights values that are fundamental to any free and democratic society. The "McGuinness Principles" is supported and endorsed by several Irish-American organizations, such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the American Irish Historical Society, and the Irish American Unity Conference. The "McGuinness Principles" has also garnered bi-partisan support from members of Congress. It is fitting and proper for this House to express support for "The Martin McGuinness Principles."
