THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY STACK, RAFFERTY, LOGAN, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, PIPPY, O'PAKE, ORIE, WASHINGTON, FERLO, BOSCOLA, GREENLEAF, BROWNE, McILHINNEY AND DINNIMAN, JULY 30, 2010

REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JULY 30, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Supporting a United Ireland.

WHEREAS, Ireland and its people comprise an ancient and

distinct island nation, and the people of Ireland have a right

and the responsibility to govern themselves; and

WHEREAS, Human and civil rights derive "their just powers

from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by

people freely elected by democratic means to an independent

government; and

WHEREAS, The logic of history, international law, human

rights and peace dictate the reunification of the island of

Ireland, and the reality of the moment in the Peace Process, the

Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Assembly and the development

of the All-Ireland institutions of governance attest to this

momentum; and

WHEREAS, In the past, the General Assembly adopted the

MacBride Principles for Northern Ireland and strongly endorsed

passage of the Good Friday Agreement among the previously

warring parties, in part because of the dedication and

bipartisan support of three separate presidents of the United

States, in seeing the Good Friday Agreement to fruition and

formation of the Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The contributions of the Irish born and Irish

Americans, to the United States of America and this Commonwealth

are legion; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is home to a

significant percentage of Americans whose ancestors migrated in

times of famine and war to seek a better life but in whose

hearts still desire peace and unification for their ancestral

home; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania strongly support a

United Ireland by supporting those peaceful political actions

that will result in the final reunification of Ireland; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to

President Barack Obama; Vice President Joseph Biden; United

States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; all members of the

Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation; the Governor of

Pennsylvania; the Honorable Andrew Rooney, the United States

Ambassador to Ireland; and the Taoiseach and President of

Ireland.