Documents & Texts from the House of Representatives
23 November 2009
Bipartisan U.S. Congress Statement on Dissident Attacks
STATEMENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FRIENDS OF IRELAND AND
CO-CHAIRS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON IRISH AFFAIRS ON DISSIDENTS ATTACKS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
The Chairman of the Friends of Ireland, Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), and
the bi-partisan Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, Congressman
Joe Crowley (D-NY), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY)
released the following statement today in response to the gun and bomb attack by
dissident groups in Northern Ireland this weekend. The Congressmen condemned the
dissident actions in the strongest possible terms and called for the swift devolution
of policing and justice powers.
“The dissident activity this weekend in Belfast and Fermanagh only
reinforces our belief that democratic politics is the only way forward in Northern
Ireland. These threats will not diminish our unequivocal support for the peace
process whose template is the Good Friday Agreement. The small group of individuals
responsible for these latest attacks have no support, no strategy and must be
brought to justice.
We also believe that the swift devolution of policing and justice powers
would help undermine the increased threat posed by the dissident groups. This
development would send a powerful message that Northern Ireland is committed
to power-sharing and that the political transformation in that society is now
complete. As bi-partisan members of the United States Congress, we hope the transfer
of policing and justice powers happens as soon as possible.”
Documents & Texts