Res. No. 1393
Resolution to support and endorse the Martin McGuinness Principles calling for Equality, Respect, Truth, and Self-Determination for the North of Ireland.
By Council Member Dromm
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 £150M ($185.285M) 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 twenty-year period since the Good Friday Agreement was made; 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 twenty-year period since entering into the Good Friday Agreement; and
Whereas, Irish New Yorkers make up 5.3% of New York City’s population (approximately 457,000 people) and share a stake in the well-being, peace, and dignity of Ireland; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports and endorses the Martin McGuinness Principles calling for Equality, Respect, Truth, and Self-Determination for the North of Ireland.
LS #14314
8/27/2020 7:41 AM
M.T.