In the News

Last Tuesday night at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., I hosted a forum to recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This groundbreaking political settlement not only brought peace and stability to the island of Ireland, it remains one of the most significant American foreign policy accomplishments in recent memory. After years of direct rule from London, power was devolved to democratic institutions in Belfast, and local officials elected on a cross-community basis were now required to make decisions about their future. A society in conflict had been transformed, and the course of modern Irish history changed forever.

Two decades later, I wanted to bring some of the key architects of that international accord together to talk about the hard won truce, and how the process needs to be sustained and nurtured going forward. President Bill Clinton began the event with a brief video statement and said "the day the Good Friday Agreement was signed was one of the happiest days of my presidency." Those comments set the tone for what was a remarkable discussion about courage and taking risks for peace.

Joining me on stage was former Senator George Mitchell and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. Both men played critical roles in the all-party negotiations that took place at Stormont Castle during the 1990's. The new Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar, who as a teenager voted for the agreement, represented the Irish government. Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch, who worked for Prime Minister Tony Blair, spoke on behalf of the British government. Both governments are co-guarantors of the agreement. Party leaders from the Social Democratic and Labor Party and the Ulster Unionist Party also participated.

The common narrative from every side and party was that the agreement is working, violence is a thing of the past, the way to solve dispute is through the crucible of politics, and the process of reconciliation takes time. There is no Plan B. We also agreed that the island of Ireland is a far different and more prosperous place than it was just a generation ago. Senator Mitchell said, the political settlement in 1998 did not guarantee peace or stability, but it made them possible. It is our job to see it through.

The most immediate threat to the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement is Brexit, and its implications on the Irish border. My position on this issues has been clear, consistent and emphatic: there can be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland under any circumstances. I made this clear during my conversations with the British government last week. We are not going back to the days of checkpoints, roadblocks and customs patrols. As talks between the United Kingdom and the European Union continue, there can be no backsliding on this crucial point.

With the recent breakdown of the cross-party talks in Belfast aimed at restoring the power-sharing institutions, I am urging the White House to name a new Special Envoy to Northern Ireland at the earliest possible opportunity. Since January 2017, devolved government at Stormont has been suspended and many important decisions about the future of the jurisdiction have been put on hold. While I remain hopeful that an accommodation between the parties can be reached, the appointment of a Special Envoy would help promote stability and send a strong message around the world that the United States remains fully engaged in the region.

As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the United States must continue to play a meaningful role on the island of Ireland in order to ensure that all aspects of the landmark settlement are implemented in full. We need to build and strengthen the trans-Atlantic relationship that exists between our great countries. We should never forget the hard work and effort that made this historic achievement possible. And we are reminded that the journey towards genuine peace and reconciliation is long.

In other words, there is still more important work left to do. I'm prepared to play my part.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Congressman Richard E. Neal is the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus and has worked for more than three decades to bring lasting peace and reconciliation to the island of Ireland.