1Supporting a United Ireland.

2WHEREAS, Ireland and its people comprise an ancient and
3distinct island nation, and the people of Ireland have a right
4and the responsibility to govern themselves; and

5WHEREAS, Human and civil rights derive "their just powers
6from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by
7people freely elected by democratic means to an independent
8government; and

9WHEREAS, The logic of history, international law, human
10rights and peaceful political actions dictate the reunification
11of the island of Ireland, and the reality of the moment in the
12Peace Process, the Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Assembly
13and the development of the All-Ireland institutions of
14governance attest to this momentum; and

15WHEREAS, In the past, the General Assembly adopted the
16MacBride Principles for Northern Ireland and strongly endorsed

1passage of the Good Friday Agreement among the parties, in part
2because of the dedication and bipartisan support of three
3separate presidents of the United States, in seeing the Good
4Friday Agreement to fruition and formation of the Assembly; and

5WHEREAS, The contributions of the Irish born and Irish
6Americans to the United States of America and this Commonwealth
7are legion; and

8WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is home to a
9significant percentage of Americans whose ancestors migrated in
10times of famine and war to seek a better life, but in whose
11hearts still desire peace and unification for their ancestral
12home; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania strongly support a
14United Ireland by supporting those peaceful political actions
15that will result in the final reunification of Ireland; and be
16it further

17RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
18President and Vice President of the United States; the United
19States Secretary of State; all members of the Pennsylvania
20Congressional Delegation; the Governor of Pennsylvania; and the
21Taoiseach and President of Ireland; and be it further

22RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
23United States Ambassador to Ireland, who shall be urged to
24transmit a copy to the United States Ambassador to Great Britain
25and to Great Britain's Ambassador to the United States.