Bill Text: NJ AR239 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Encourages United Kingdom and European Union to maintain soft border between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland under Brexit.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [AR239 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR239-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Encourages United Kingdom and European Union to maintain soft border between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland under Brexit.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution encouraging the United Kingdom and the European Union to maintain a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the final agreement governing the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Whereas, On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom expressed, through a referendum, approval of the United Kingdom withdrawing as a member state from the European Union; and
Whereas, As a result, the Parliament of the United Kingdom began the formal process required to effectuate withdrawal from the European Union, commonly referred to as "Brexit," on March 29, 2017, with a proposed departure date of March 29, 2019; and
Whereas, One of the most contentious issues surrounding Brexit involves the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is about 310 miles long with as many as 275 crossing points; and
Whereas, The current arrangement at the border permits virtually free and "frictionless" travel between both regions, lending to its designation as a "soft border," as demonstrated by an absence of official passport checks and other relaxed customs regulations, particularly after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement; and
Whereas, The history between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been plagued by years of political violence and turmoil, and maintaining the peace so earnestly sought and cherished by citizens of both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom is in the best interests of not only those involved, but of all participants in the international community; and
Whereas, Parties to the negotiations on both sides of Brexit have verbalized support for preserving, insofar as possible, the soft border arrangement currently in operation; and
Whereas, It is of the utmost importance that the final agreement providing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union retain, by all practicable means necessary, the soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and refrain from adding barriers to the peace in that region; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House encourages the United Kingdom and the European Union to maintain a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the final agreement governing the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the United States Secretary of State, the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland, the European Council, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom expressed approval for the United Kingdom withdrawing as a member state from the European Union. As a result, the Parliament of the United Kingdom began the formal process required to effectuate withdrawal from the European Union, commonly referred to as "Brexit," with a proposed departure date of March 29, 2019. One of the most contentious issues has been the ramifications on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The current arrangement at the border permits virtually free and "frictionless" travel between both regions, known as a "soft border." The history between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been plagued by years of political violence and turmoil, and maintaining the peace so earnestly sought and cherished by citizens of both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom is in the best interests of not only those involved, but of all participants in the international community. Thus, this House encourages the United Kingdom and the European Union to reach a final agreement for withdrawal that refrains from adding barriers to the peace in that region and retains, by all practicable means necessary, the soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
