[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 74 Referred in House (RFH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 74
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 29, 2008
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, for his service
to the people of Ireland and to the world and welcoming the Prime
Minister to the United States.
Whereas the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives are saddened
that the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, has announced that he
will resign on May 6, 2008;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern has served the people of Ireland with distinction
for many years and has been an extraordinary friend to the United States
throughout his years in office;
Whereas during his extensive period of public service, Prime Minister Ahern has
made significant contributions to an unprecedented era of peace,
prosperity, and progress in Ireland;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern entered politics in 1977 and has been elected 10
times in the past 31 years by the people of Dublin Central;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern was elected leader of Fianna Fail in 1994 and
became Prime Minister in 1997;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern is the second-longest-serving Taoiseach, or Prime
Minister, in the history of Ireland, and the second-longest-serving
leader of Fianna Fail;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern is the first Taoiseach since 1944 to be elected on
3 successive occasions;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern has been fully committed to strengthening the
economy of Ireland and, under his leadership, Ireland became more
prosperous than at any time in the history of the country and became
world-renowned as the ``Celtic Tiger'';
Whereas the people of Ireland have benefitted from a significantly improved
quality of life during Prime Minister Ahern's service as Taoiseach;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern promised years ago that one of his highest
priorities was to end the decades-long cycle of hatred and violence in
Northern Ireland;
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern kept that promise and worked assiduously to achieve
the peace that Northern Ireland enjoys today;
Whereas the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, described
Prime Minister Ahern as a ``remarkable leader'' and stated that Prime
Minister Ahern ``will always be remembered for his crucial role in
bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, [and] for transforming
relations between Britain and the Irish Republic''; and
Whereas Prime Minister Ahern will address a joint session of Congress on April
30, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That--
(1) it is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern,
has been a strong and effective leader for the people
of Ireland and a good friend to the United States;
(B) the skillful leadership of Prime Minister Ahern
was indispensable in finally achieving a successful
resolution of the longstanding conflict in Northern
Ireland; and
(C) the legacy of Prime Minister Ahern is clear and
his contribution to peace is enormous;
(2) Congress thanks Prime Minister Ahern on behalf of the
people of the United States, wishes him well, and hopes his
unique talents will be of service in resolving conflicts
elsewhere in the years ahead in our divided world; and
(3) the Members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives look forward to paying fitting and fond tribute
to Prime Minister Ahern when he addresses a joint session of
Congress on April 30, 2008.
Passed the Senate April 28, 2008.
Attest:
NANCY ERICKSON,
Secretary.