Support Irish Rights Principles

Senate Resolution No. 312 BY: Senator KENNEDY SUPPORTING the Martin McGuinness Principles WHEREAS, The 1998 Good Friday Agreement between the Irish Government and the British Government provides that the British Government should enact legislation defining rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which, together with the ECHR, are to constitute "a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland"; and WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement provides that the British Government will "take resolute action to promote...facilitate and encourage the use of" the Irish language; and WHEREAS, The 2006 St. Andrews Agreement between the Irish Government and the British Government provides that "The British Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language"; and WHEREAS, The British Government agreed in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement between the Irish Government and the British Government to provide up to ú150M to fund inquests on legacy killings; and WHEREAS, The commitment in the Stormont House Agreement to fund inquests on legacy killings was reaffirmed in the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement between the Irish Government and the British Government; and WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement provides that it is for a majority of people from Northern Ireland to determine whether they should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland; and WHEREAS, The British Government has not enacted a Bill of Rights for the North of Ireland in the 20-year period since the Good Friday Agreement was agreed; and WHEREAS, The British Government has not enacted an Irish Language Act to ensure full statutory equality for the Irish language nor taken resolute action to promote, facilitate, or encourage the use of the Irish Language; and WHEREAS, The British Government has not funded or held inquests into the killings of hundreds of civilians during the conflict; and WHEREAS, The British Government has not held a poll or referendum on a united Ireland at any time during the 20-year period since the Good Friday Agreement was agreed; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to strongly support and endorse the Martin McGuinness Principles calling for equality, respect, truth, and self-determination for the North of Ireland; and be it further RESOLVED, That the four principles of the Martin McGuinness Principles should be met without further delay by the enactment of a Bill of Rights for the North of Ireland, the enactment of an Irish Language Act, the release of funds to undertake inquests regarding legacy killings, and the holding of a referendum to determine if a majority of voters desire the North of Ireland to become a united Ireland; and be it further RESOLVED, It is for the people of the island of Ireland alone, by agreement between North and South and without external impediment, to exercise their right of self-determination on the basis of consent; and be it further RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body shall publicize and promote the Martin McGuinness Principles to the extent deemed appropriate.