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.