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Northern Ireland- Vital Voices [1]
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002a.agenda
1999 Northern Ireland Political Leadership Opportunity for Women
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002b. list
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Clinton Presidential Records
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Melanne Verveer (Su~ject Files: Non-Profits- October 7, 1994)
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-The Presider1t's
Interagency Council on Women
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
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·-·---··-·
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�...
HISTORY
The island of Ireland was conquered by Normans in 1170 ·
A.D.
Full British rule was accomplished by the 17th
Century.
Plantations of English and Scottish settler~ came
in ·the 16th and 17th centuries.
In 1798 rebellion brok~ out
throughout the island in reaction to new penal laws which
were regarded as depriving Irish people of civil and
religious liberties.
The rebellion was suppressed by the
British and was followed by the Act of Union of Britain and
Ireland in 1800. Tension continued throughout the 19th
century, as Irish activists sought to establish. rights for
·Irish landholders thr(;ugh, the British Parliament.
In the
late 19th century, pressure. for limited self-government
(_Home Rule) for Ireland was met by increasing resistance
among the Protestants in the northern counties.
.
After the 1916 Easter Rising on Easter day in 1916
which was crushed by BritaiD, a nascent Sinn Fein, a
militant independence party, won almost all the Irish seats
outside Ulster in the 1918 Weiiminster general election.· On
December .21, 1919 those ~arne Sinn Fein MPs formed ~n Irish
Parliament and reaffirmed the· indepenqence .. of the Republic
of Irelind~ which had first been declared at the 1916 Easter
Rising.
In 1920 the British Parliament passed the
Government of Ireland Act .which establi.shed two "Home Rule"
Parliament~, in Dublin ~nd Belfast.
The Act was implemented
in· Northern Irelandi but was ignoied. in the south, where .. the
Irish Repbblican Atmy (IRA) continued to fight for
independence.
After a truce was signed in June 1921, negotiations
with the so~thern Irish led to the ~n~lci-Irish,Treaty of
Dece~ber 1921,· which result~d in the establishment in 1922
of the Irish Free St~te with dominion statu~.
The six
northernmost counties remained in the United Kingdom. --All
terriiory to the South belonged to the irish Free Stat~.
Irishmen differed over whether to accept the partition,
leading to a two and a half-year civil war.
In the end;
those accepting parti ti'on prevailed over the IRA, which had
waged a guerrilla war.
The boundary with Northein Ireland
was confirmed in 1925.
Even though partition of the island had become a fact,
it was never full~ accepted among the population.
The
Catholic minority in Northern Ireland provided tacit
approval, cover and recruits for the IRA which continued its
opposition to the partition and the Br~tish. presence~
In
\
'
\
\
'.
(
�1937 Articles Two atid Three of a newly adopted Irish
Constitution declared the whole territory of the island to
belong to ~he Republic.
In 1949, the Free St~te became a
Republic, leaving the Commonwealth.
The IRA waged ari aggressive_ terrorist campaign
primarily targeting British officials and commercial
enterpris-es during a period popularly known as "The
Troubles.'' From 1969 until today 3;600 persons have been
killed (including at Omagh), and over 9,000 injured by the
IRA, Protestant paramilitaries and Britfsh security forces.
In 1973 the British Parliament pas~ed the Ireland
Constitution Act which ldeclared '1, •• in. no .event will Northern
Ireland or any part of it cease to be part of:.. the United
Kingdom without the consent of the majority of the people of
Northern Ireland voting in a poll." This ~rinciple has been
reaffirmed. in the. Anglo-Irish Agreement of 19S~, the Downing
Street Declaration of 1993, the Joint Framewor~ Documerit of
1995, and the "Good Friday" Agreement ..
�U.S. ECONOMIC INITIATIVES
The United States has pursued. a series of measures to promote
trade, investment, and economic development in.Northern Ireland
and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland to support the
peace process. .U.S. policies to encourage an end to violence and
show the tangible benefits of peace in these ·regions of
traditional high unemployment and underdevelopment include:
ffhi te House Trade and Investment Conferences.
The White
House sponsored large-scale conferences to bring American and
Northern Ireland business leaders together in 1995 (Washington)
and 1996 (Pittsburgh). Subsequent U.S. efforts. have helped bring
about new joint ventures, commercial deals, and investments.
More than 100 American companies now operate in Northern Ireland,
and another 400 in th~ south.
American support· for. the International Fund for Ireland.
·Sirice 1993, the Clinton Administration and Congress have
contributed $100 ~illion to the International Fund for Irel~nd
(IFI) for Northern Ireland and the border counties of the
Republic of Ireland, to promote peace and reconciliation in the
north of Ireland through economic regeneration. Established in
1986, the Fund has supported over 3000 projects in urban
development, education, tourism, community infrastructure and '
assistance to small businesses. Among the IFI's successful
transatlantic initiatives. resulting from the 1995 and 1996 White
House conferences.are the RADIAN research and development joint
venture programs for high tech companies and the North American
Partnership (NAP), ·which matches Irish companies with American
partners . . The Administration has .asked Congress to maintain the
.current'lFI funding level of $19.6 million in the FY99 budget.
In addition to the U.S., the IFI receives contributions from the
European Union, the UK, Republic of Irelarid, Can~da, Australia
and New Zealand.· Mr. Jim Lyons has been the~ U.S. observer. to the
IFI since 1993.
·
Department of Commerce Trade Missions. The Department of
Commerce has sponsored several high-level tr:ade missions to
Ireland and Northern Ireland since 1995. Last June, Secretary
Willi~m Daley led a highly successful trade mission to Northern
Ireland and the Republic that included s~nior executives from
major U.S. corporations in the aerospace, health, electronic, and
fo6d processing sectors, as well as innovative entrepreneurs in
the information technology and environmental sectors.·
Office of the Special Advisor for Economic Initiatives in
Ireland.
Last fall, President Clinton appointed Jim Lyons as
Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for
Economic Initiatives in Ireland, succeeding former Senator George
Mitchell. Created iri 1994, the Office of' the Special Advisor at
the State Department, under Mr.· Lyons'·leadership, works closely·
with other government (3.gencies and private entities to coordinate
implementation of the. President's economic initiatives.
�..
Micro-enterprise development. Special Advisor Lyons is
working with leaders of 'the Northern Ireland business/banking,
community and government sectors to establish a self-sustainable
private financial vehicle that will offer loans and bu~iness
support to expand micro-enterprise opportunities to those who d6
not have access to -capital~
Springvale Campus. At U.S. initiative, the International
Fund for Ireland has provided, first, an initial 1993 fS million
seed money and, this year, an additional $5 million, to bui;Ld the
.Springvale educational village across the peace line that once
divided Protestant and Catholic-corrimunities in North/West
Belfast. Springvale \·!ill include a central com:muni ty outreach
center, and training faculties that specialize in information
technology, applied medical and bio-engineering research, design
and multi-media. The U.S. In-formation Agency (USIA} will support
Springvale campus with a full range of educational programs,
including Fulbright, International Visit?r .:!J.nd Citizen exchang~s.
Women as economic players. The "Women. as Vital Voices"
conference, co-sponsored by the White House and the United
Kingdom, will recogni~e the important role. women in Northern
Ireland play in supporting peace and encourage women's greater
-participation in the economic and political life of their
society. It will be held in Belfast Aug. 31-September 21, 1998,
with the.~artici~ation of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
.
.
.
Worktrain program and Philadelphia Jobs Ini tia ti ve .· USIA is
supporting the collaboration of the Philadelphia Jobs Initiative
with Worktrain, ~:Northern Ireland "w~lfare-to-work" initiative.
information on innovative programs for training and support for
job seekers.
Department of Commerce Business· Information Center for.·
The Commerce
Department established in 1995 a full-time Foreign Commercial
Service assistant in the U.S. Consulate General in Belfast. ThiS
Commercial Assistant provides on-the-ground assistance for U.S.
firms seeking to develop or expand business relationships in the
region.
·
·
North~rn Ireland.and the Border Counties.
Science. and Technology Cooperation. U.S~ and ·Northern
officials have inbrea~ed'cooperati6n in the science and
technology area ~ith the aim of establishing in Northern Ireland
a manufacturing technol6gy partnership, networking industryuniversity cooperative research ceniers in Northern Ireland and
the U.S., and settin~ up techriology internships. ·
_
Ir~land
Manqgement .Intern Program . . The American Management and
Business Internship Training (AMBIT}. program, sponsored by IFI,
has brought 50 managers and technical experts from Northern
Ireland and the border counties.to train with U.S. companies
since 1995. It is managed by the Department of Commerce, which
expects to add 30 more participants in 1998.
UNC_LASSIFIED
�---------
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NORTHERN IRELAND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
The Northern Ireland economy performed relatively well
in.l997, with regional GDP grow~ng 2.7% a
r a lackluster
2.0% showing in.l996.
Unemployment is at a 20 year low of
7.3 %. GDP per capita is about BPS 8,700 ($14,500), 81
percent of the UK average.
There is some concern the economy may weaken in the
near term, however, with GDP growth expected to be under 2.0
percent this year.
For the manufacturing secior, which
contributes about a quarter of GDP, sales to the UK mainland
(one-third of sales) will lLkely stagnate, as the UK economy
grows only margin~lly this year.
Exports to Ireland, which
now comprise almost a quarter of total exports, have turned
down, while imports are increasing significantly due to the
strength of the pound over the Iiish ~unt.
The strength·of
the pound has also. combined with the BSE scare and the Asian
financial crisis to weaken other exports, especially in the
sensitive food prbcessing and textile lndust
s (which
account for 40 p~rcent of all manufacturing output) .
Although the service sector (~boui 75 percent of GDP) had
been performing well,
are conc~rns
rna~ weaken as
well.
To~rism· is also. suffering as the troubles surrounding·
the July marches have iaken a toll on advance bookings.
In part to encouFage a shift away from the public
sector, Chancellor Brown in May unveiled a $500 million
tiative to prdmote eriterprise, investmerit, tourism and
skills training in Northern Ireland~ The Chancellor als6
announced that he would join Secretary
State for Northern
Ireland Mo Mowlam on a 10-city tour of North Arrierica in the
1 to promote investment in Northern Ireland.
Over the
eight years, 180
ign companies have invested $2.4
billion in factories in Northern Ireland, employing 46,500
workers.
Th~ U.S. is the single largest·
reign investor,
with some 40 companies employing 9,000 workers. A number of
investments have been
the fast growing electronics,
formation and software industries~
External assistance also makes a significant
contribution to the economy. Over the ~ast 12 years, the
International Fund for Iieland, support~d by a $290 million
contributi6n from the United States, has spent some $530 ·'
mi ion for 3400 projects, contributing to the generation
of apprqximately.28,000 jobs.····
�---------------------------------------
WOMEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Wometi in the Economy:
Women account for 51.2% of'the population of Northern
Ireland and are playing an in6reasingly active role in all
areas of society.
Currently 317,000 ~en are economicallY.
active, making up 45% of those in employment, and 49% of.
employees.
The: number of self employed WoiTi'e'n has risen by
around 6Ji since 1984 and women now account for 20% of the
self-employed. The Government is taking steps to encourage
this trend through programs encouraging women to consider
the enterprise option and providing business .counseling and
support for women starting up their own businesses.
There are significant differences in the employment
patterns for men and· women.
Thirty-eight percent of women
employees work part-time.
Women account foi 85% of parttime and 66% of temporary employees.
Ho.wever, 7 5% ot female
.employees who work part-time· say that they do not. want a
.full-time job.
Four percent of women work from'home ..
Female workers continue to be ~on6entrated ·in
traditiortal occupational areas:
26% work in. clerical or
se6retari~l occupations; 16% in ~ersonaL ~nd protective
services; 12% in sales;, 9% in professional occupations; _and
9% in associate professional and technical occupations.
Only 9% of women in employment work as managers or
administrators, as compared to 23% for men.
Women's aveia~e
hourly earnings· are 8 4. 2% of those of ffieQ.. However, the
average weekly earnings for women are 76.2% of the average
for men, this gap b~ing largei beca~se women have, on
average, a shorter working week than men.
Women in Public Life:
Women currently hold 33.4% o£ public appointments in,
Northern.Ireland (compared to 18% in 198i), including 2.8 Chair
and 19 Deputy-Chair posts in p~blic bodies.· Women make up 14.3%
of elected Councilors in local Government districts.
Of the 26
local Councils in Northern lr~land, three have woman mayors or
chairs, and. another three a woman De~uty to the Mayor or Chair.
At the recent elections for the new Northern Irelan~
womeri won fotirteen seats, representing just over
.10% bf ~the 108-persgn body .. Two ·~f th~ women.~lected to the
Assembly are members of the ~ortherh Ireland Women's.
Coalition (NIWC), a political ~aity formed t6 represent the
interests of women in the Northern I:rela'hd negotiations
process.
NIWC also has 2 local Countil.lors.
As~~mbly,
�_,
I''
U.S. Department of State
Bureau olf Public Affair.·s
Background Notes: United Kingdom, April 1998
Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 244,820 sq. km. (94,525 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Oregon.
Cities: Capital--London (metropolitan pop. about 6.9 million). Other cities--Birmingham,
Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bradford, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Belfast.
Terrain: 30% arable, 50% meadow and pasture, 12% waste or urban, 7% forested, 1%
inland water.
Land use: 29% arable, 48% meadows and pastures, 9% forest and woodland, 14% other.
Climate: Generally mild and temperate; weather is subject to frequent changes but to few
extremes of temperatlire . .'
·· .
·
People
Nationality: Noun--Briton(s). Adjective--British.
Population: 58.5 million (July 1996 est.)
. Annual population growth rate: 0.22% (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups: British, West Indian, South Asian.
Religions: Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland
(Presbyterian).
.
·
Languages: English, Welsh; Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
Education: Years. compulsory--12. Attendance--nearly 100%. Literacy--99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate,-6.4/1 ,000. (1996 est.)
Life expectancy (1996 est.)-..:males 74.yrs.; females 79 yrs.
Work force (1995, 28 million): Services--76%; industcy--18Wo; manufacturing and
e~gineering--18%; .ruining and energy--5%; construction--4%; agriculture--!%.
Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy. ·
Constitution: Unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice.
Branches: Executive--Monarch (Head of State), Prime Minister (Head of Government); ·
cabinet. Legislative--bicameral parliament: House of Commons, House of Lords.
�Judicial--magistrates' courts,.county courts, high courts, appellate courts, House of Lords.
Subdivisions: Municipalities, counties, parliamentary constituencies, province of
Northern Ireland, and Scottish regions.
·
Political parties: Conservative; Labour; Liberal Democrats; and various smaller parties of
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Suffrage: British subjects and citizens of the Irish Republic resident in the U.K., at 18.
Economy
GDP (Real GDP, 1997): $1.29 trillion.
Annual growth rate (1997): 3.5%.
Per capita GDP (1997): $22,241.
Natural resources: Coal, oil, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk,
- gypsum, lead, silica
.
Agriculture: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, cattle, she:ep; poultry, fish.
Industry (33% of GDP): Types--steel, heavy engineering and metal manufacturing,
. textiles, motor vehicles and aircraft, construction, electronics, chemicals. ·
Trade (1995): Exports--$279 billion: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum, .
manufactures, chemicals. Major markets--EU, U.S., Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria,
Switzerland, South Africa. lmports--$300 billion: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, foodstuffs, petroleum, chemicals. Major suppliers--EU, U.S., Japan,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.
·
PEOPLE
In 1993, the United Kingdom's population was estimated at :58 million -the fifth largest
in Europe after Russia, Germany, Italy and France. Its population density is one of the
highest in the world. Almost one-third of the population lives in England's prosperous
and fertile southeast and is predominantly urban and suburb<m- with 6.9 million in the
capital of London. The UK' s high literacy rate (99%) is attr,ibutable to the introduction of
public primary education in 1870 and secondary education in 1900. Education is
mandatory from ages 5 through 16. Approximately one-fifth ofBritish students goes on
to post-secondary education. The Church of England is the official church, but virtually
all religious sects found in the world are represented inthe U.K.
A group of islands close to continental Europe, the United Kingdom has been subject to
many invasions and migrations, especially from Scandinavia and the continent, including
Roman occupation for several centuries. Contemporary Britons are descended mainly .
from the varied ethnic stocks that settled there before the.11th century. The pre:-Celtic,
Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse influences .were blended in Britain under the
Normans, Scandinavian Vikings who had lived in Northern Fnmce. Although Celtic
languages persist to a small degree in Northern Ireland, Wal·~s, and Scotland, the .
predominant language has been English, a blen~ of Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French.
�HISTORY
The Roman invasion ofBritain in 55 BC and its subsequent incorporation into the Roman
Empire stimulated development and brought more active contacts with the rest of Europe.
As Rome's strength declined, the country again was exposed to invasion-including the
pivotal incursions of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in the fifth and sixth centuries AD-up
to the Norman conquest in 1066. Norman rule effectively ens~red Britains safety fi:om
further intrusions; certain institutions, which remain characteristic of Britain, could
develop. Among these are a political, administrative, cultural, and economic center in
London; ·a separate bl!t established church; a system of common law; distinctive and
distinguished university education; and representative government.
The Union
Both Wales and Scotland were independent kingdoms that fiercely resisted English rule.
The English conquest of Wales succeeded in 1282 under Edward I, and the Statute of
Rhuddlan established English rule two years later. To appease the Welsh, Edward's son
(later Edward II), who had been born in Wales, was made Prince of Wales in 1301. The
tradition of bestowing this title on the eldest son of the British monarch continues today.
An act of 1536 completed the political and administrative union of England and Wales.
England and Scotland were united under one crown in 1603, when Ja.II}es VI of Scotland
.succeeded his cousin Elizabeth I as James I of England. In the ·ensuing 100 years; strong
religious and political differences divided the kingdoms. Finally, in 1707, England and
Scotland.
Ireland's invasion by the Anglo-Normans in 1170 led to centuries of strife. Successive
English kings sought to conquer Ireland. In the early 17th century, large-scale
settlement of the north from Scotland. and England began. After its defeat, Ireland was
subjected, with varying degrees of success, to control and regulation by Britain.
The legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was completed on January 1, 1801,
under the name ofthe United Kingdom. However, armed struggle for independence
continued sporadically into the 20th century. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 established
the Irish Free State,: which subsequently left the· Commonwealth and became a republic
after World War II. Six northern, predominantly Protestant Irish, counties have remained
part of the United Kingdom.
''l
'
British Expansion an<J Empire
·Begun initially to support William the Conqueror's (c. 1029-1087) holdings in France,
Britain's policy of aCtive involvement in European affairs endured for several hundred
years. By the end ofthe 14th century, foreign trade, originally based on wool exports to
·Europe, had emerged as a cornerstone of national policy.
�,---------------------
Th~
foundations of sea.power were gradually laid to protect English trade and open up
· new routes. Defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 firmly established England as a major
·sea power. Thereafter,.itsinterests, outside.Europe grew ~teadily. Attracted by the spice
trade, English mercantile interests spread first to the Far East. In search of an alternate
route to the Spice Islands, John Cabot reached the North American continent in 1498. Sir .
Walter Raleigh organized the first, short-lived colony in Virginia in 1584, and permanent
English settlement began in 1607 atJamestown, Virginia. During the next two centu_ries,
Britain extended its influence abroad and consolidated its political development at home.
Great Britain's industrial revolution greatly strengthened its ability to oppose Napoleonic
France. By the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, the United Kingdom was the
foremost European power, and its navy ruled the seas. Peace in Europe allowed the
British to focus their interests on more remote parts of the world, and, during this period,
the British Empire reached its zenith. British colonial expansion reached its height
largely during the reign of Queen Victoria ( 183 7 - 1901 ). Queen Victoria's reign
witnessed the spread of British technology, commerce, language and government
throughout the British Empire, which at its greatest extent'e~compassed toughly onequarter of the world's area and population. British colonies contributed to the United
·.Kingdom's extraordinary economic growth and strengthened its voice in world affairs.
Even as the United Kingdom became inore imperial abroad, it continued to develop and
broaden its democratic institutions at home.
20th Century
·.By the time of Queen Victoria'.s death ih 1901, other nations, including the United States
and Germany, had developed their OWn industries; the United Kingdom's comparative
economic advantage had lessened, and the ambitions of its rivals had grown. The losses
and destruction of World War I, the depression ofthe 1930's,, and decades of relatively
slow growth made it difficult for the United Kingdom to maintain its preeminent
international position of the previous century.
Britain's control over its empire loosened during the interwar period. Ireland, with the
exception of six northern counties, broke away from the United Kingdom in 1921.
Nationalism became stronger in other parts of the empire, particularly in India and-Egypt.
In 1926, 'the U.K., completing a process begun a century earlier, granted Australia,
Canada, and New Zealand complete autonomy within the empire~ They became charter
.. members of the British Commonwealth ofNations, and infmmal but closely knit
association that succeeded the empire. Beginning with the independence of India and
Pakistan in 1947, the remainder ofthe British Empire was almost completely dismantled.
Today, most ofBritain's former co.lonies belong to the Commonwealth, almost all of
them as independent members. There are, however, thirteen former British colonies '
(including Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islanqs and others) which have electedto
continue their political links with London and are ~own as British Overseas Territories.
�. Although weakened by economic and political nationalism, the Commonwealth offers the
United Kingdom voice in matters concerning many developing countries. In addition,
the Commonwealth helps preserve many institutions. deriving from British experience
and models, such as parliamentary democracy, in those countries.
a
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
.
The United Kingdom is one of the largest economies in the European Union and a major
international trading power. London ranks with New York a.s a leading international
financial center.
Britain in 1996 ranked as the United States' sixth-largest trading partner in total trade and
the fourth-largest U.S. export market after Canada, Japan, and Mexico. The British
purchased $30.9 billion worthofU.S. goods in 1996, while: U.S. imports from Britain
·were valued at $28.9 billion. U.S. total trade with the United Kingdom in 1996 amounted.
to 2?% oftotal U.S. trade with the European Union. The U.K. is a large source of foreign
tourists in the U.S.- receipts for UK travel were second highest in 1997.
At $256 billion in 1996, total two-way direct investment between the U.S. and Britain
made the investment.partnership the world's largest. The U.S. and U.K. were also each
other's largest investment partner in 1996. U.S. direct in~estment in the U.K. in 1996 was
$143 billion. British direct investment in the U.S. was $143 billion, accounting for·23%
of total stock of foreign investment. This investment sustains about 1 million American
jobs ..
British industry is a mixture ofpublicly and privately owned firms. Several important
industries are publicly owned, including steel; railroads, coal mining, shipbuilding, and
certain utilities. Since 1979, the British Government has privatized most large stateowned companies, including British Steel, British Airways; British Telecom, British
Coal, British Aerospace, and British Gas.
The United Kingdom is an energy-rich nation with significant reserves of oil and gas in
the North Sea and large coal resources. Energy production accounts for almost 5% of
GDP. North Sea oil production, currently over 2.4 million b/d, is on an upward trend
expected to continue into 1996. U.K. offshore areas should be an important source of
continued production and new discoveri~s for some years. U.S. oil and oil-service
companies participate actively in the North Sea oil industry and consider the United
Kingdom an·attfactive environment for future investment.
,.
GOVERNMENT
The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution. The equivalent body of law is
based on statute, cotnrUon law, and "traditional rights." Changes may come about
formally through new acts of parliament, informally through the acceptance of new ·
practices and usage, or by judicial precedents. Although parliament has the theoretical
�power to make or repeal any law, iri actual practice the weight of 700 years of tradition
restrains arbitrary actions.
Executive government res.ts'nominally with the monarch but actually is exercised by a
committee of ministers (cabinet) traditionally selected from among the members ofthe
House of Commons and, to a lesser extent, the House of Lords. The prime minister is the
leader of the majority partyin the Commons, and the government is dependent on its
support.
Parliament represents the entire country and can legislate fo:r the whole or for any
constituent part or combination of parts. The maximum parliamentary term is five years,
but the prime minister may ask the monarch to dissolve parliament and call a general
election at any time. The focus of legislative power is the 650,.member House of
Commons, which has sole jurisdiction over finance. The House of Lords, although shorn
of most of its powers, can still review, amend, or delay temporarily any bills except those
relating to the budget. Only a few of the 1,200 members of the House of Lords attend its
sessions regularly. The House of Lords has more time than the House of Commons to
pursue one of its more important functions--debating public issues.
The judiciary is independent of the legislative and executive branches but cannot review
the constitutionality of legislation:
The separate identity of each of the UK's constituent parts also is reflected in
governmental structure. A cabinet minister (the Secretary of State for Wales) handles
Welsh affairs at the national level with the advice of a broadly representative council for
Wales. Scotland continues, as before its union with England, to· employ different systems
of law (Roman-French), education, local government, judiciary, and national church (the
Church of Scotland instead of the Church of England). In addition, separate departments
grouped under a Secretary of State for Scotland handle most domestic matters, who also
is a cabinet member. In late 1997, following approval of referendums by Scottish and
Welsh voters (though only narrowly in Wales), the British government introduced
legislation to establish a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh assemble. The two bodies, ·
which are to be elected in 1999, are intended to take over most of the functions currently
performed by the Scottish and Welsh offices.
Until suspended in'March 1972, Northern Ireland--with the British Governinent retaining
ultimate responsibility--had its own parliament and prime minister. Then, in response to
deteriorating security and political conditions in the province, direct rule from London
was established through a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. 18 members in the
House of Commons represent Northern Ireland. The six c01mties of Northern Ireland
comprise about 900,000 Protestants and 650,000 Catholics.
On November J 5, 1985, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland signed the
Anglo-Irish agreement t9 diminish the divisions in Northern Ireland and to achieve peace
and stability. In the agreement, both governments affirm that any change in Northern
�Ireland's status will come about only wit.h the consent of a majority of its people. An
intergovernmental conference was established to deal with political, security' legal, and
cross-border cooperation issues
Multiparty talks on the political arrangements for Northern Ireland's future began in June
1996 under the chairmanship of former Senator George Mitehell.
Throughout the latter half of 1996 and early 1997, the negotiations made little progress.
The process was re-energized in mid-1997, leading to increased pressure on the IRA to
restore the ceasefire rescinded early in 1996. The IRA did restore its cease-fire in July,
and Sinn Fein was admitted to the talks process in September. In a final marathon push,
all parties signed an agreement on April 10, 1998 (as it happened, Good Friday). The
Northern Ireland, or "Good Friday" Agreement was then put to a vote on May 22, 1998
and strong majorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland approved it in,
. simultaneous referendums.
The Agreement provides for an 108-member Northern Ireland elected Assembly, to be
overseen by a 12-minister Executive Committee in which Unionists and Nationalists
would share responsibility for governing. The Agreement will institutionalize crossborder cooperation with the Republic of Ireland, and will create mechanisms to guarantee
the rights of all. Provision is made for the continuance of the relationship between
London and Dublin set out in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 (now supplanted): The
Agreement also provides for a British:..Irish Council, including representatives of the
British and Irish governments, the Northern Ireland institutions, together with the
devolved bodies in Scotlandand Wales. The Agreement is now being implemented.
As of 1998, the United States has given or pledged contributions o"f over $300 million
dollars to the International Fund for Ireland. The Fund provides grants and loans to
businesses to improve the economy, redress inequalities of employment opportunity, and
improve cross-border business and commercial ties.
Head of State --:- H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
Principal Government Officials:
Prime Minister-The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs--The Rt. Hon. Robin Cook
Ambassador to the U.S.--Sir Christopher Meyer
Ambassador to the UN--Sir John Weston
The United Kingdom maintains an embassy in the United States at 3100 Massachusetts
Ave. NW, Washington,DC20008 (tel. 202-462-1340; fax 202- 898-4255).
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Current Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair was elected on May 1, 1997 with a massive
176-seat majority over the Conservatives. Blair ended an 18-year run of Conservative
J
�(Tory) Party rule in the U.K. Blair worked hard to reorganize and reenergize the Labour
Party, moving it steadily·to the center ofthe political spectrum. Both main British parties
support a strong transatlantic link but have become increasingly absorbed by European
issues as Britain's economic and political ties to the continent grow in the post-Cold War
world. Prime Minister Blair has promised that the U.K. will play a leading role in Europe.
During the UK's January to June 1998 Presidency ofthe European Union, the UK
presided over the launching of negotiations to bring 5 Central European countries aQd
Cyprus into the Union and chaired the summit.that determined which EU countries would
enter monetary union.
U.S.-U.K. RELATIONS
The United Kingdom is one ofthe United States' closest allies, and British foreign policy
emphasizes close coordination with the United States. Bilateral cooperation reflects the
common language, ideals, and democratic practices of the two nations. The relations were
.strengthened by the UK's alliance with the United States during World Wars, the Korean
.
conflict, and the Persian Gulf war. The United Kingdom and the United States
continually consult on foreign policy issues and global problems-and share major foreign
and security policy objectives. In the United Nations, the U.K. is a permanent member of
the Security Council.
The U.K. is a key member oftheNorth Atlantic TreatyOrganization(NATO) and has
. been a member of the European Community (now European Union) since 1973. The U.K.
is one ofNATO's major European maritime powers and ranked third in 1996 among
NATO countries in total defense expenditure.
· .The British armed force~ are charged with protecting the United Kingdom and its
Overseas Territories, promoting Britain's wider security interests, and supporting
international peacekeeping efforts. The 46,000-member Royal Navy is in charge ofthe
UK's independent strategic nuclear arm, which consists of four Trident missile
submarines. The Royal Marines provide commando units for amphibious assault and for
specialist reinforcement fo~ces iri and beyond the NATO area: The British Army, with a
strength of 110,000, including 7,600 women, and the Royal Air Force, along with -tlie
Royal Navy and Royal Marines, are active and regular partidpant~ in NATO and other
coalition operations.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
·Ambassador-:-Philip Lader: · .
.
.
Minister (Deputy Chief ofMission)--Robert Bradtke
Minister for Economic Affairs--Charles Ries
Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs--Judith Johnson
Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs--Charles Ford
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs - Pamela Smith·
�..
The U.S,. Embassy in the United Kingdom is located at: 24 Grosvenor Sq., WlA lAE,
London (tel. [44] (171)499.;9000; fax [44] (171) 409- 1637). Internet website:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk
·
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Travel Waro.ings
and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department
recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Consular Information·
Sheets exist for all countries and Include information on immigration practices, currency
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political
disturbances, and the addresses ofthe U.S. posts in the country. Public Announcements
are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other
relatively short-term conditions overseas which pose significant risks to the security of
American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of
Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000.
Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets also are available on the Consular
Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov and the Con~ular Affairs Bulletin
Board (CABB). To access CABB, dial the modem number: (301~946-4400 (it will
·accommodate up to 33,600 bps), set terminal communications program to N-8-1 (no
parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit); and terminal emulation to VT100. The login is travel and the
password is info (Note: Lower case is required). The CABB also carries international
security information fromthe Overseas Security Advisory Council and Department's
Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Consular Affairs Trips for Travelers publication series,
which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, can be
·purchased from the Superintendent '?fDocuments, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O.
Box 371954, Pittsburgh,PA 15250-7954; telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from
the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at(202) 647-5225.For after-hours emergencies,
Sundays and holidays, call202-647-4000.
·
Passport Services information can be obtained by calling the 24-hour, 7-day a week
automated system ($.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday- ·
· Friday ($1.05 per Il}inute). The number is 1-900-225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778).
Major credit card users (for a flat rate of$4.95) may calll-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888498-3648)
.
.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease .
Control and Prevention inAt1anta; Georgia. A hotline at (404) 332-4559 gives the most
· recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on
food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health
Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95.,.8280) is '
available from t~e U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202)
512-1800. .
'
.
�Information on travel conditions, visa r~quirem~nts, currency and customs reguhttions,
legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may ~e obtained before your
departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (fo~ this country, see
"Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication).
·. · ·
U.S. citizens who are long.,.terrilvisitors or traveling in dangerous areas, are encour~ged.
to register at the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country (see "Principal U.S. Embassy
Officials" listing in this publication). This may help family members contact' you in case
of an emergencY:
Further Electronic Information:
Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Available on the Internet, DOSFAN
provides timely·, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information. .Updated daily,
DOSFAN includes Background Notes; Dispatch; the official magazine of U.S. foreign
policy; daily press briefings; directori~s ofkey officers of foreign service posts; etc.·
DOSF AN's World Wide Web site is at U.S. State Department Home Page; this site has a
link to the DOSFAN Gopher Research Collection, which also is accessible at.
gopher://gopher.state.gov.
U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USFAC). Published on a semi-annual basis by the
U.S. Department of State, USF AC archives information on the Department of State.
. .
.
Foreign Affairs Network, arid includes an array o( official foreign poFcy information
from 1990 to the present. Contact the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202) 5121800 or fax (202) 512-2250.
National Trade Data Bank (N'fDB). Operated bythe U.S. Department of Commerce, the
NTDB c.ontains a wealth oftrade-rdated information, including Country Commercial
Guides. It is available on the Internet (www.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the
NTDB Help-Line at (202) 482-1986 for more information.
\
\
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U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Public Affairs
Background Notes: Ireland, August 1998
Official Name: Ireland
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 70,282 sq. km. (27,136 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West Virginia.
Cities: Capital -~ Dublin (pop.1 ,058,264 - somewhat less than one-third the total
population). Other cities _.:cork (127,187), Limerick (52,039), Galway (57,241), ·
Waterford, (42,540). ·
Terrain: Arable 10%, meadows and pastures 77%, rough grazing in use 11%, inland
water 2%.
·
·Climate: Temperate maritime.
People
Nationality: Noun--Irishman, Irishwoman. Adjective--Irish.
Population: 3.7 million.
Ethnic groups: Irish, with English minority.
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%; Church oflreland 2.5%; Other 5.9%.
·.Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).
Education: Compulsory up to age 16; Enrollment rates: 5-14 year olds- 100%; 15 year
olds - 95%; 16 year olds - 92%; %; Literacy -- 98-99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.5/1,000. Life expectancy at birth-- years: male 72.3 yrs.,
female 77.9 yrs.
Work force: Services-- 56%; Industry -- 29%. Agriculture-- 10%. Governn1ent -- 5%.
�I
• I
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: 1921.
Constitution: December 29, 1937.
Branches:
Executive -- President, chief of state; Prime Minister Taoiseach (pronounced "TEEshock"), head of government.
Legislative-- bicameral National Parliament (Oireachtas --pronounced "o-ROCK-tas"):
House of Representatives (Dail-- pronounced "DOlL"), and Senate (Seanad -pronounced "SHAN-ad").
Judicial-:- Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 counties.
Major political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labor, Progressi.ve Democrats,
Democratic Left, Green Party, Sinn Fein
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Economy
. GNP (1997): $60.6 billion (estimate).
Annual growth rate (1997): 8.0% (estimate).
Per capita income: $16,550 (estimate).
Natural resources: Zinc; lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite,
peat.
Agriculture (8% ofGNP}: Products--cattle,·meat, and dairy products, potatoes, barley,
.sugar beets, hay, silage, wheat.
Industry (38% of GNP): Types--food processing, beverages:, engineering, computer
equipment, textiles and clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction.
Trade (1997): Exports--$53 billion: computer equipment, chemicals, meat, dairy
products, machinery. Major markets--UK 24%, other EU countries 42%, U.S. 11%.
Imports--$39 billion: grains, petroleum products, machinery,transport equipment,
chemicals, textile y~ms. Major suppliers--UK 34%, other EU countries 21%, U.S. 15%.
�U.S.-IRISH RELATIONS
U.S. relations with Ireland are based on common ancestral ties and on similar values and
political views. The United States seeks to maintain and strengthen the. traditionally
cordial relations between the peoples of the United States and Ireland.
Economic and trade relations are an important element of the bilateral relationship. U.S.
investment has been a major factor in the growth of the Irish economy, and Irish
membership of the European Union means that discussion ofEU trade and economic
policies, as well as other aspects of EU policy, are a key element in exchanges between
the two countries. ·
Emigration, long a vital element in the relationship, has declined significantly with
Ireland's economic boom in the 1990s, and iinmigration to Ireland, espeCially of nonEuropeans, is a growing phenomenon with political, economic and social consequences.
However, temporary residence overseas for work or study, mainly in the U.S., UK and
elsewhere in Europe, remains common.
The United States has warmly welcomed the April 10, 1998 agreement between the.
Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom and among the political parties of
Northern Ireland. The agreement seeks to end political violence through balanced .
constitutional change and the creation of all-island structures designed to promote
cooperation and reconciliation between the Roman Catholic and Protestant citizens of
Northern Ireland and the Republic oflreland. U.S. Government policy <?n Northern
Ireland condemns all acts of terrorism and violence. It also cautions all Americans to
question closely any appeal for financial or other aid from groups involved in the
Northern Ireland conflict to ensure that contributions do not end up in the hands ofthose
who support violence, either directly or indirectly.·
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
In 1997, trade between Ireland and the United States was worth around $12.0 billion,a
19% i~crease over 1996. U.S. exports to Ireland were valw~d at $5.9 billion, an increase
of about 6% over 1996, and represent 15% oflreland's total imports. The range ofU.S.
exports includes electrical components, computers and peripherals, dfugs and
pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment and livestock feed. Irish exports to the United
States grew by almost 35% over 1996, to $6.1 billion in 1997; or about 11% of all Irish
exports. Exports to the United States include alcoholic beverages, chemicals and related
products, electronic data pro~essing equipment, electrical machinery, 'textiles and
clothing~ and glassware.
In 1997, the traditional U.S. trade surplus with Ireland moved into deficit, reflecting fast
growth in imports of Irish-made pharmaceuticals and equipment and machinery. Overall,
the value of U.S. imports from Ireland exceeded the value of U.S. exports to Ireland by
�',-,
slightly less than $200 million. Nonetheless, given the continued favorable outlook for
the Irish economy, sales opportunities for U.S: producers in Ireland are expected to
improve as living standards rise. Export-Import Bank financing and the presence of major.
U.S. banks in Ireland facilitate marketing by U.S. suppl~ers.
U.S. statements havenoted the impon;ant contribution toward economic and social
progres~ represented by American industrial investment in Ireland--north and south-.-and
have pledged to maintain the U.S. commitment to facilitate the growth of such jobcreating investment. U:S. investment has been particularly important to the growth and
modernization of Irish industry over the past 25 years, providing new technology, export
capabilities, anq employment opportunities. The stock of U.S. investment in Ireland at
end-1996 was valued at $11.7 billion. There are more than 500 U.S. subsidiaries,
employing almost 70,000 people and spanning activities from manufacturing of high-tech ·
electronics, computer products, medical supplies,'· and phannaceuticals to retaiEng,
banking and finance, and other services.
Many U.S. businesses find Ireland an attractive location to manufacture for the EU
market, since it is inside the EU customs area. Government policies are generally
formulated to facilitate trade and inward direct investment.· The availability of an
educated, well-trained, English-speaking work force and relatively moderate wage costs
have been important factors. Irehmd offers good long-term growth prospects for U.S.
companies under. an innovative financial incentive program, including capital· grants and
favorable taX: treatment, sl}ch as a 10% corporation income tax rate for manufaCturing
firms and c~rtain finaridal.services.firins ..
PRINCIPAL U.S. OFFICIALS
Ambassador -- Jean Kennedy Smith; Deputy Chief of Mission -- Earle St. Aubin
Scarlett; Administrative Officer -- Richard Simpson; Commercial Attache -- Edward
Cannon; Consular Officer-- Steven Wangsness; Defens.e Attache,.- Col. William
Torpey, USA; Economic Officer --Richard Mills; Political Officer-- Edwin R. Nolan;
Public Affairs Officer-., Barbara Scarlett. The U.S. Embassy in Ireland is located at 42
.
Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin4 (tel. 668-7122; fax 668-9946).
'
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS, , '
Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state with a parliamerta.rY system of
government. The President, who serves as Chief of State in a largely ceremonial rol~, is . ·
elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only onc1;:, In carrying out certain
constitutional powers and·functions, the President is aided by the Council of State, an
advisory body. On the Taoiseach's (Prime Minister's) advice, the President also dissolves
the Oireachtas (parliament).
The President appoints as prime minister the leader of the political party, or coalition of
parties, which wins the most seats in the Dail (house of representatives). Executive
�power is vested 'in a cabinet whose ministers are nominated by the Taoiseach and
approved by the Dail.
The bicameral Oireachtas consists of the Seanad Eireann (senate) and the Dail Eireanh
(house ofi::epresentatives). The Seanad is composed of 60 members--11· nominated by the
prime minister, six elected by the national universities, and 43 elected from panels of
candidates established on a vocational basis. The Senate has the power to delay
legislative proposals and is allowed 90 days to consider and amend bills sent to it by the
bail, which wieldsgreater power in Parliament. The Dail has 166 members popularly
elected to a maximum term of five years under a complex system of proportional
representation.
Judges are appointe~ by the President on nomination by the Government, and can .be
removed from office only for misbehavior or incapacity, and then only by resolution of
both houses of parliament. The ultimate court o(appeal is the Supreme Co~rt, consisting
of the Chief Justice and five other justices. The Supreme Court can also decide upon the
constituti<;mality of legislative acts if the President asks for an opinion.
Local government is by elected county councils and -- in the cities of Dublin, Cork,
Limerick, and Waterford.;_ by county borough corporations. :In practice, however,
authority remains with the central government. .
f'rom 1800 to 1921, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom.· The Anglo- Irish Treaty of
1921 established the Irish Free State, which after World W::rr II left the British
Commonwealth and became a republic. Six northern counties on the island oflreland -.
·
Northern Ireland :-~remain part of the United Kingdom.
Irish politics remain dominated by the two politicai parties that grew out of Ireland;s
bitter 1922-23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty
that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon
Fine Gael, representative ofthe pro-treaty forces,
became Ireland's largest political
remains the country's second-largest party.
party.
In recent years, however, there have been signs that this largely two-party structure is
evolving. Mary Robinson of the Labour Party shocked the political establishment by
winning the 1990 presidential election. Articulating a progressiv:e agenda for Ireland's
future, and outspoken on soCial issues, Robinson represented a distinct break from the
.conservative politics of the two major parties. The. November .1992 general election
confirmed this trend. The two main parties lost ground as the La~ourParty_scored an
historic breakthrough, winning 19% of the vote.and 33 seats in the House. As a result of
the election, Labour held the balance of power between the two largest parti~s and
initially choseto go into coalition with Fianna Fail. ThatGovernmentcollapsed in
.
.November 1994 and Labour again demon~trated its new role when it dictated the tenns 6f
a new "rainbow'~ government coalition with Fine Gael and the Democratic Left ..
�In i 997, however, there was a return to a more traditional model. In the June General
Election, Labour lost heavily and was reduced to 18 seats in the Dail. Though Fianna
Fail did not win an outright majority, it increased its seats to 76 and was able to form a
coalition with the much smaller (4 seats) Progressive Democrats. Fine Gael also picked
. up seats, but was unable to form a coalition with the much-reduced Labour party. In the
November 1997 Presidential election, Fianna Fail c.andidate Mary McAleese, a lawyer
from Northern Ireland~ won a record victory over four other candidates.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Resolving t~e Northern Ireland problem remains the leading political issue in the country.
"Nationalists" in Northern Ireland want unification with Ireland, while "unionir.ts" want
continued union with Great Britain.
·
Since the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement granting Ireland a formal voice in Northern'
Ireland affairs, there has been an extensive dialogue between the governments of Ireland
' and the United Kingdom on how to bring about a, peaceful, democratic resolution of the
conflict. In December 1993, the "Downing Street Declaration," holding out the promise
of inclusive political talks on the future .of Northern Ireland, was issued. This led the
Irish Republican Army (IRA) to call a "total cessation" of military operations on August
31, 1994. This was followed, six weeks later, by a similar cease-fire by the loyalist
paramilitari es.
Following up on the cease-fires, the two governments in February 1995 issued the
Framework Document, which proposed a basis for negotiations. Generally welcomed by
nationalists, it was rejected by unionists, who di~paraged it as a "blueprint for a united
Ireland." Despite the negative unionist reaction, the two governments tried to launch the
negotiating process by almouncing they would hold a serie~: of bilaterals with all the
constitutional parties in the north.
· The process stalled in 1995, due to disagreements between the British Governri1ent and
Sinn Fein, the political arm ofthe IRA, about the decommissioning of IRA weapons.
President Clinton's visit to Ireland in December 1995 led to the establishment later-the
same month of an International Commission, chaired by former U.S. Senator George
· Mitchell, to recommend a solution to this impasse. ·
The Jan\lary 1996 "Mitchell Report" recommended decommissioning be addressed
during a negotiating process. The report was widely praised. However, the. Briti~h ·
Government decision to hold elections for a negotiating body was S{!en as a step
backwards, and,. in February 1996, the IRA officially endecl its cease fire with a bomb
attack in London which killed two. At the end of February 1996, the two Governments
announced thatall~party talks would begin in June and be open to all parties disavowing
violence. In May 1996, elections were held to. determine participation iri the talks, with
Sinn Fein gaining nearly 16% ofthe vote. However, the party was turned away from the
�negotiations when they began on June 1Oth because of the IRA's continued campaign of
violence. The negotiations were chaired by Senator Mitchell.
Throughout the latter half of 1996 and early 1997, the negotiations made little progress.
The May 1997 election ofTony Blair and the Labour Party Government in the UK,
however, re-energized the process and led to increasing pressure on the IRA to restorethe
ceasefire. After gaining assurances thatthe negotiations process would be time-lirn..ited
and that decommissioning would not again become a stumbling block, the IRA did
restore its ceasefire in July 1997, and Sinn Fein was admitted to the talks process in
September 1997. The negotiations moved from process to substance in October 1997. In
a final marathon push in April 1998, which included the personal intervention of
President Clinton, all parties, on April 10, signed an agreeri1ent. The "Good Friday"
(April10 happened to be Good Friday) agreement was put to a vote, and strong majorities
in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland approved it in simultaneous referendums
OJ). May 22, 1998.
The Agreement provides for a 108-member Northern Ireland elected assembly to be
overseen by a 12 minister Executive Committee in which unionists and nationalists
would share responsibility for governing. The Agreement, which is now being
implemented, will also institutionalize the cross-border cooperation with the Republic of
Ireland and will create mechanisms to guarantee the rights of all. Members of ~he 108seat assembly were elected on June 25. The results of the election confirm that four
parties will play a dominant role in the new legislative body: the Ulster Unionist party
wori 28 seats and the Democratic Unionist party won 20 seats on the Unionist side.' On
the nationalist side, the SLDP·won 24 seats and Sinn Fein, 18 seats. Assembly members
are to meet in "shadow" mode for some months while preparing the procedures and
modalities of the new legislative body, which is expected to assume governing
responsibilities as early as 1999.
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
President-- Mary McAleese; Taoiseach (Prime Minister)-- Bertie Ahern; Tanaiste
(Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment-- Mary
Harney; Ambassador to the United States-- Sean O'hUigirm. The Irish Embassy in the
United States is at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-4623939/40/41/42). Irish Consulates are located in New York, Chicago, Boston, and San .
Francisco:
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Trav:el Warnings
and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are'issued when the State Department
recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Consular Information
Sheets exist for all countries and include information on irnmigration practices, currency
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crirye and security, political
�--------------------------------~--~----~----------------------------
disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the subject country. They can be
obtained by telephone at (202) 647-5225 or by fax at (202) 647-3000. To access the
Consular Affairs Bulletin Board by computer, dial (202) 647-9225, via a modem with
. standard settings. Bureau of Consular Affairs' publications on obtaining passports and·
planning a safe trip aboard are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Governri:lent Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 783-3238. Emergency
information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Offic~ of
Overseas Citizens Services at (202)647- 5225. Travelers can check the latest health
information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta,
Georgia. A hotline at (404) 332-4559 gives the most recent health advisories,
immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water
safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International
Travel (HHS publication number CDC-94-8280, price $7.00) is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20420, tel. (202) 512-1800. Information
on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays,
and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a
country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal
Government Officials" listing in this .publication). Upon their arrival in' a country, U.S.
citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy (see "Principal U.S. Embassy
Officials" listing in this publication). This may help family members contact you en route
in case of an emergency. Further Electronic Information: Consular Affairs Bulletin
Board (CABB), Available by modem, the CABB provides Consular Information Sheets,
Travel Warnings, and helpful information for travelers. Access at (202) 647-9225 is 'free
. of charge to anyone with a personal computer, modem, telecommunications software, and
a telephone line. Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Available on the Internet,
DOSFAN provides timely, global access to official U.S. fort:ign policy information~
Updated daily, DOSF AN includes Background Notes; Dispatch, the official weekly
magazine ofU.S. foreign policy; daily press briefings; directories of key officers of.
foreign service posts; etc. DOSFAN is accessible three ways ~m the Intemet: Gophe~:
dosfan.lib.uic.edu URL: gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ WWW:
·
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/dosfan.html U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USFAC).
Published on a quarterly basis by the U.S. Department of State, USF AC archives
information on the Department of State Foreign Affairs Network, and includes an array of
official foreign policy information from 1990 to the present. Priced at $80 ($1 00 foreign),
one-year subscriptions include four discs (MSDOS and Macinto.sh compatible) and are
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Govemment Printing Office, P.O.
Box 37194, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202)512-1800 or fax (202) 5122250. Federal Bulletin Board (BBS). A broad range of foreign policy information also is
carried on the BBS, operated by the U.S. Govemment Printing Office (GPO). By modem,
dial (202) 512-1387. For general BBS information, call (202) 512-1530. National Trade
Data Bank (NTDB). Oper~ted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the NTDB contains
a wealth of trade-related information, including Country Commercial Guides. It is
.
available on the Internet (gopher.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the NTDB HelpLine at (202) 482-1986 for more information. .
�==============================
Backgrotind Notes Series -- Published by the United States Department of State -- Bureau
of Public Affairs -- Office of Public CommuniCation -- Washington, DC This
information is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission; citation
of this source is appreciated. (###)
·J
�·'
U.S. Department of State
Bureau off Public Affair:s
Background .Notes: ·Ireland, ·~~ugust 1.998 ·
·Official Name: ·Ireland
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 70,282 sq. km. (27,136 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West Virginia.
Cities:' Capital -- Dublin (pop.1 ,058,264 - somewhat less than one~third the total
population). Other cities --Cork (127,187), Limerick (52,039), Galway (57,241),
Waterford, (42,540).
Terrain: Arable 10%, meadows and pastures 77%, rough grazing in use 11 %,. inland
water 2%.
Climate: Temperate maritime.
People
Nationaiity: Noun-~ Irishman, Irishwoman. Adjective--Irish ..
Population: 3. 7 million.
Ethnic groups:
Ir~sh,
with English minority.
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%; Church oflreland 2.5%; Other 5.9%.
Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).
Education: Comp.ulsocy up to age 16;Enrollment rates: 5-14 year.olds- 100%; 15yeat
olds - 95%~ 16 year olds - 92%; %; Literacy -~ 98-99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.5/i ,000. Life expectancy at birth-'-· years: male 72.3 yrs.,
female 77.9 yrs.
Work force: Services -- 56%; Industry -- 29%: Agriculture-- 10%: Government-- 5%.
�Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: 1921.
Constitution: December 29, 1937.
Branches:
Executive -- President, chief of state; Prime Minister Taoiseach (pronounced "TEEshock"), head of government.
Legislative-- bicameralNational Parliament (Oireachtas --pronounced "o-ROCK-tas"):'
House of Representatives (Dail-- pronounced "DOlL"), and Senate (Seanad -pronounced "SHAN-ad").
Judicial-- Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 counties:
Major political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labor, Progressive Democrats,Democratic Left, Green Party, Sinn Fein
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Economy
GNP (1997): $60.6 billion (estimate) .
. Annual growth rate (1997): 8.0% (estimate).
'
.
Per capita income: $l6,550 (estimate).
Natural resources:· Zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite,
peat.
Agriculture (8% o'f'GNP): Products~~cattle, meat, and dairy products, potatoes, barley,
sugar beets, hay, silage, wheat.
,.
Industry {38% of GNP): Types--food processing, beverages, engineering, computer
equipment, textiles and clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction.
Trade (1997): Exports--$5J billion: computer equipment, chemicals, meat, dairy
products, machinery. Major markets--UK 24%, other EU countries 42%, U.S. 11%.
lmports--$39 billion: grains, petroleum products, machinery, transport equipment,
chemicals, textile yams. Major suppliers--UK 34%, other EU countries 21%, U.S. 15%.
�U.S.-IRISH RELATIONS
U.S. relations with Ireland are based on common ancestral ties and on similar values and·
political views. The United States seeks to maintain and strengthen the traditionally·
cordial relations between the peoples of the United States and Ireland.
Economic and trade relations are an important element of the bilateral relationship. U.S.
investment has been a major factor in the growth of the Irish economy, and Irish
membership of the European Union means that discussion ofEU trade and economic
policies, as well as other aspects ofEU policy, are a key element in exchanges between
the two countries.
Emigration, long a vital element in the relationship, has declined significantly with
Ireland's economic boo~ in the 1990s, and immigration to Ireland, especially of nonEuropeans, is a growing phenomenon with political, economic and social consequences.
However, temporary residence overseas for work or study, mainly in the U.S., UK and
elsewhere in Europe, remains common.
The United States has warmly welcomed the April 10, 1998 agreement between the
Governments oflreland and the United Kingdom and among the political parties of
Northern Ireland. The agreement seeks to end political violence throug;h balanced
constitutional change and the creation.of all-island structures designed to promote
cooperation and reconciliation between -the Roman (:a~holiC: and Protestant citizens of
Northern Ireland and the Republic oflreland. U.S. Government policy on Northern
Ireland condemns all acts of terrorism and violence. It also eautions all Americans to
question closely any appeal for financial or other aid from groups involved in the
Northern Ireland conflict to ensure that contributions do not end up in the hands of those
who support violence, either directly or indirectly; .
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
In 1997, trade between Ireland and the United States was worth around $12.0 billion, a
19% increase over 1996. U.S. exports to Ireland were valued at $5.9 billion, an increase
of about 6% over 1996, and represent 15% oflreland's total imports. The range of U.S.
exports includes electrical components, computers and peripherals, drugs and
pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment and livestock feed. lrish exports to the United
States grew by almost 3 5% over 1996, to $6.1 billion in 1997, or about 11% of all Irish
exports. Exports to the United States include alCoholic beverages, chemicals and related
products, electronic data processing equipment, electrical machinery, textiles and
clothing, and glassware.
In 1997, the traditional U.S. trade surplus with Ireland moved into deficit, reflecting fast
growth in imports of Irish-made pharma~euticals and equipment and machinery. Overall,
·the value of U.S. imports from Ireland exceeded the value of U.S. exports to Ireland by
�slightly less than $200 million. Nonetheless, given the continued favorable outlook for
the Irish economy, sales opportunities for U.S. producers in Ireland are expected to ·
improve as living standards rise. Export-Import Bank financing and the presence of major
U.S. banks in Ireland facilitate marketing by U.S. suppliers. · .
U.S. statements have noted the important contribution toward economic and social
progress represented by American industrial investment in Ireland--north and south-.:..and
have pledged to maintain the U.S. commitment to facilitate the growth of such jobcreating investment. U.S. investment has been particularly important to the growth and
modernization of Irish industry over the past 25 years, providing new technology, export
capabilities, and employment opportunities. The stock ofU.S. investment in Irelandat
end-1996 was valued at $11.7 billion. There are more than :500 U.S. subsidiaries,
employing almost 70,000 people and spanning activities from manufacturing of high-tech
electronics, computer products, medical supplies, and phannaceuticals to retaiEng,
banking and finance, and othe~ service;.
.
Many U.S. businesses find Ireland an attractive location to manufacture for the EU
market, since it is inside the EU customs area. Government policies are generally
formulated to facilitate trade and inward direct investment. The availability of an
educated, well-trained, English-speaking work force and relatively moderate wage costs
have been important factors. Ireland offers good long-term growth prospects for U.S.
companies under an innovative financial incentive program, including capital grants and
favorable tax treatment, such as a 10% corporation income tax rate for manufacturing
· firms and certain financial services firms.
PRINCIPAL U.S. OFFICIALS
Ambassador -- Jean Kennedy Smith; Deputy Chief of Mission -- Earle St. Aubin
Scarlett; Administrative Officer-- Richard Simpson; Comn;1ercial Attache-- Edward
Cannon; Consular Officer-- Steven Wangsness; Defense Attache-- Col. William
Torpey, USA; Economic Officer --Richard Mills; Political Officer-- Edwin R. Nolan;
Public Affairs Officer-- Barbara Scarlett. The U.S. Embassy in Ireland is located at 42
Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (tel. 668-1122; fax 668-9946).
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Ireland is a sovereign, independeilt, democratic state with a parliamentary system of
government. The President, who serves as Chief of State in a largely ceremonial role, is
elected for a seven.. year term and can be re-elected only once'. In carrying out certain
constitutional powers and functions, the President is aided by the Council of State, an
advisory body. On the Taoiseach's (Prime Minister's) adviee, the President also diss.olves
the Oireachtas (parliament).
The President appoints as prime minister the leader ofthe.political party, or coalition of
parties, which wins the most seats in the Dail (house of representatives). Executive
�power is vested in a cabinet whose ministers are nominated by the' Taoiseach and
approved by the Dail.
The bicameral Oireachtas consists ofthe·Seanad Eireann (semite) and the Dail Eireann ·
(house of representatives). The Seanad is composed of 60 members--11 nominated by the
prime minister, six elected by the national universities, and 43 elected from panels of
candidates established on a vocationalbasis. The Senate has the power to delay
legislative proposals and is allowed 90 days to consider and amend bills sent to it by the
Dail, which wields greater power in Parliament. The Dail has 166 members popularly
elected to a maximum term of five years under a complex system of proportional
representation.
Judges are appointed by the President on nomination by the Government, and can be
removed from office only for misbehavior or incapacity, an~i then only by resolution of
both houses of parliament. The ultimate court of appeal is the Supreme Court, consisting
of the Chief Justice and five other justices. The Supreme Court can also decide upon the
constitutionality of legislative acts if the President asks for an opinion.
Local government is by elected county councils and -- in th•~ cities of Dublin, Cork,
Limerick,. and Waterford-- by county. borough corporations. In practice, however,
.
.
authority remains with the central government.
'
From 1800 to 1921, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. The Anglo- Irish Treaty of
1921 established the Irish Free State;which after World War II left the British
Commonwealth and became a republic. Six northern counties on the island of Ireland -Northern Ireland --rem<:tin part of the United Kingdom .
. Irish politics remain dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's
bitter 1922;.23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty
that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon
became Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael, representative of the pro-treaty forces,
remains the country's second-largest party.
In recent years, however, there have been signs that this largely two-party structure is
evolving. Mary Robinson of the Labour Party shocked the political establishment by
winning the 1990 presidential election. Articulating a progressive agenda for Ireland's
future; and outspoken on social issues, Robinson represented a .distinct break from the
conservative politics of the two major parties. The November 1992 general election
confirmed this trend. The two main parties lost ground as the Labour Party scored an
historic breakthrough, winning 19%ofthe vote and 33 seats in the House. As a result of
the election, Labour held the balc;mce of power between the two largest parties :md
initially chose to go into coalition with Fiaruia Fail. That Government collapsed in
.November 1994 and Labour again demonstrated its new role when it dictated the terms of
a new "rainbow" government coalition with Fine Gael and the Democratic Left.
�In 1997, however, there was a return to a more traditional model. In the June General ·
Election, Labour lost heavily and was reduced to 18 seats in the Dail. Though Fianna
Fail did not win an outright majority, it increased its seats to 76 and was able to forrri a
coalition with the much smaller (4 seats) Progressive Democ:rat,s .. Fine Gael also picked
up seats, but was unable to form a coalition with the much-reduced Labour party. In the
November 1997 Presidential election, Fianna Fail candidate ·Mary McAleese, a lawyer
from Northern Ireland, won a record victory over four other candidates.
NORTHERN IRELAND ..
Resolving the Northern Ireland problem remains the ieading political issue in the country.
"Nationalists" in Northern Ireland want unification with Ireland, while "unionints" want
continued union with Great Britain.
Since the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement granting ireland aformal voice in Northern
Ireland affairs, there has been an extensive dialogue betweeH the goverrupents oflreland
and the United Kingdom on how to bring about a peaceful, democratic resolution of the
conflict. In December 1993, the "Downing Street Declaration," holding out the promise
of inclusive political talks on the future of Northern Ireland, was issued. This led the
·Irish Republican Army (IRA) to call a "total cessation" of military operations on August
31, 1994. This was followed, six weeks later, by a similar cease-fire by the loyalist
paramilitaries.
Following up on the cease-fires, the two governments in February 1995 issued the
Framework Document, which proposed a basis for negotiations. Generally welcomed by
nationalists, it was rejected by unionists, who disparaged it as a "blueprint for a united
Ir~land." Despite the negative uniorust reaction, the two governments tried to launch the
negotiating process by announcing they Would hold a series of bilaterals with all the
constitutional parties in the north .. ·
The process stalled in 1995, due to disagreements between the British Government and
'Sinn Fein, the political arm ofthe IRA, about the decommissioning ofiRA weapons.
President Clinton's visit to Ireland in December 1995 led to the establishment later·the
same month of an International Commission, chaired by former U.S. Senator George .
Mitchell, to recommend a solution to this impasse..
'
The Jan1,1ary 1996 "Mitchell Report" recommended decommissioning be addressed
during a negotiating process. The report was widely praised. However, the British
Government decision to hold elections for a negotiating body was seen as a step
backwards, and, in February 1996, the IRA officially ended its ceasefire with a bomb
att;;tck in London which killedtwo. At the end of February 1996, the two Govel1lliients
announced that all-party talks would begin in June and be open to alLparties disavowing
violence. In May 1996, elections were held to determine participation in the talks, with
Sinn Fein gaining nearly 16% ofthe vote. However, the party was turned away from the
�. negotiations when they began on June lOth because ofthe IRA's continued·campaign of
violence. The negotiations were chaired by Senator Mitchell.
Throughout the latter half of 1996 and early 1997; the negotiations made little progress.
The May 1997 election of Tony Blair and the Labour Party Government in the UK, ..
however, re-en~rgized the process and led to increasing pressure on the IRA to restore the
ceasefire. After gaining assurances that the negotiations process would be time-lirn..ited
and that decommissioning would not ag~in become a stumbling block, the IRA did
restore its ceasefire in July 1997, and Simi Fein was admitted to the talks process in
September 1997. The negotiations moved from process to substance in October 1997. In
a final marathon push in April 1998, which included the personal intervention of
President Clinton, all parties, on April 10,' signed an agreement. The "Good Friday"
(April 10 happened to be Good Friday} agreement was put to a vote, and strong majorities
in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland approved it in simultaneous referendums
on May 22, 1998.
·
The Agreement provides for a 108-member Northern Ireland el<;:cted assembly to be
overseen by a 12 minister Executive Committee in which unionists and nationalists
would share responsibility for governing. The Agreement, which is now being
implemented, will also institutionalize the cross-border 'cooperation with the Republic of
Ireland and will create mechanisms to guarantee the rights of all. Members of ~he 108seat assembly were elected. on June 25. The results ofthe·election confirm that four
parties will play a dominant role in the new legislative body: the Ulster Unionist party
won 28 seats and the Democratic Unionist party .won20 seats on the Unionist side. On
the nationalist side, the SLDP won 24 seats and Sinn Fein, 18 seats. Assembly members
are to meet in ·"shadow" mode for some months while preparing the procedures and
modalities ofthe new legislative body; which is expectedto assume governing
responsibilities as early as 1999.
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
•
'
I
'
'
.President-- Mary McAleese; Taoiseach{Prime Minister)-- Bertie Ahern; Tanaiste
· (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment-- Mary
Harney; Ambassador to the U:b.ited States-- Sean O'hUiginn. The Irish Embassy in the
United States is at 2234 Massachu'setts Ave. NW, W~hington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-4623939/40/41/42). Irish Consulates ar~ located in New York, Chicago, Boston, and San
'Francisco.
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department ofState's C~nsular Information Program provides Travel Warnings
and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department
recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Consular Information
Sheets ·exist for all countries and include information on immigration practices, currency
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and· security, political .
�disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the subject country. They can be
obtained by telephone at{202) 647-5225 or by fax at (202) 647-3000. To access the
Consular Affairs Bulletin Board by computer, dial (202) 647-9225, via a modem with
standard settings. Bureau of Consular Affairs' publications on obtaining passports and
planning a safe trip aboard are. available from the Superintendent ofDocuments, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 783-3238. Emergency
information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Offic~ of
Overseas Citizens Services at (202).647- 5225. Travelers can check the latest health
information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta,
. Georgia. A hotline at (404) 332-4559 gives the most recent health advisories,
immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water
safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International
Travel (HHS publication number CDC-94-8280, price $7.00) is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20420, tel. (202) 512:-1800. Information
on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays,
and other items 'of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a·
country's embassy and/or .consulates in the U.S .. (for this country, see "Principal .
Government Officials" listing in this publication). Upon their arrival in a country, U.S.
citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy (see "Principal U.S. Embassy
Officials" listing in· this publication). This may help family members contact you en route
in case of an emergency. Further Electronic Informatio.n: .Consular Affairs Bulletin
Board (CABB). Available by modem, the CABB provides Consular Information 'sheets,
Travel Warnings, and helpful information for travelers. Access at (202) 647-9225 is free
of charge to anyone with a personal computer, modem, telecommunications software, and
a telephone line. Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Available on the Internet,
DOSFAN provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information.
Updated daily, DOSFAN includes Background Notes; Dispatch, the official weekly
magazine of U.S. foreign policy; daily press briefings; directories of key officers of .
foreign service posts; etc'. DOSFAN is accessible three ways on the Internet: Gopher:
dosfan.iib.uic.edu URL: gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ WWW:
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/dosfan.html U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USF AC).
Published on a quarterly basis by the U.S. Department of State, USF AC archives
information on theDepartrrient Of State Foreign Affairs Network, and includes an array of
official foreign policy information from 1990 to the present. Priced at $80 ($1 00 foreign),
one-'year subscriptions·include four discs (MSDOS and Macintosh compatible) and are
available from the Superintendent ofDo~uments, U.S. Gove:mment Printing Office~ P.O.
Box 37194, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202) 512-1800 or fax (202) 5122250. · Federal Bulletin Board (BBS): A broad range of foreign policy information also is
carried on the BBS, operated by the U.S. Governrrient Printing Office (GPO). By modem,
dial (202) 512-1387. For generalBBS information, call(202) 512-1530. National Trade
Data Bank (NTDB). Operated by the U.S. Department ofC~>mmerce, the NTDB contains
a wealth of trade-related information, including Country Commercial Guides. It is ··
available on the Internet (gopher.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the· NTDB HelpLine at (202)·482-1986 for more information.
�=====================~=====
Background Notes Series-- Published by the United States Department of State-- Bureau
ofPublic Affairs-- Office of Public Communication-- Washington, DC This
information is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission; citation
ofthis source is appreciated.(###)
�BELFAST CITY HALL
.In 1888 Queen Victoria conferred on Belfast the status of a
City.
In response the citizens built the ~Bg~ificent City Hall
which today stands in the heart of Belfast.
Sir Brunwell Thomas
wbn the ''Public Architectural Competiiion" which selected the
design of the hall. Work began in 1898 and was completed in
1906.
The building_is in~the Classical Renaissance style and is
rectangular in shape, enclosing a courtyard ..
The Grand Staircase which dominates the ground floor
reception area.is constructed from Carrara, Pavonazzo and Brescia
marbles.
On the landing .atop the Grand Staircase there is a mural by
Belfast artist John Luke which illustrates the foundation of the
city.and its one~time principal industries: textiles,
shipbuilding, engineering and rope-making.
The many stained glass windows throughout the hall
commemorate events in Belfast's history and the serv.ice of its
citizens during th~ two Worid Wars.
The hall's copper dome is a distinctive landmark on the
Belfast ~kyline.
Inside it is elaborately panelled with fine
plaster work.
The oak p~nelled Council Ch~mbei has bee~ th~ scene ot
intense, and sometimes heated, political debate.
The chamber was
used for the first Parliament of Northern Iieland in 1921.
The building covers an acre and a half, and is set in gardeni
which are open to the public.
There are statues in honour of
Queen Victoria, the victims and suivivors of the Titanic
disaster,. and the United States Expeditionary ~orce (this is
currently being re-positioned and will be rededicated by the
President as part of the ceremony.)
The grounds also contains a Garden of Remembiance and War
Memorial.
�STORMONT
·The Stormont .Parliament Building is a handsome and
imposing neoclassical stru6ture situated impressively on a
long, rising slope in East Belfast. Compieted in 1932, it
served as the home of the former Northern Ireland Parliament
until that body was dissolved in 1972. The short-lived
power-sharing Assembly met in the building in 1974. Als_o on
the grounds of the Stormont estate are the Castle, which now
·bouses elements of the Northern Ireland Office, and the
modern Castle Building, which was the site of the multipatty
talks chaired by Senator Mitchell.
The site has not been warmly greeted by many
nationalists as the home of the new Assembly.
They continue
to associate the structure with the legacy of the failed
majoritarian-dominated Stormont Parliament.
Nonetheless,
the Assembly has. agreed to .utilize the Parliament· Building,
pending ultimate resolution of ih~ qqestion of where to
locate the legislature permanently.
The building has been completely renovated since a 1995
fire caused extensive damage to the Commons chamber.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has worked h~rd to
reify the building's symbolism as "the people's Stormont" by
sponsoring art exhibits, tours and even a concert by Elton
John, on the grounds.
This has been partially successful,
but potent and potentially divisive symbols - su~h as
st?tutes of L6rd Carson and Lord Craigavon, two of the prime
advocates of the Ulster Unionist cause - r~main in prominent
locations.
�HILLSBOROUGH HOUSE.
...
The Castle is an unassuming late-eighteenth century
mansion house.
Being at the center of Hillsborough,· it is
more akin to an English manor house than to most Irish
houses in their dem~snes (grounds),· some distance 6utside
town or village~ A little confusirig in its layout, the .
house started as ~ rectangular block on the west side of
the entrance courtyard, and what now appears to be the
principal part, the long ~outh frorit, was only· a later
addition.
The o~iginal hou~e was added to piecemeal over a
period of abo~t 80 y~ars.
·The f.irst house on the present site was built by Lord
Hillsborough sometime after 1758. Eighteenth century
architect R.E. Brettingha~ did not design the house from
scratch, but revamped it, adding a library and making it
more sophisticated and acceptable to late-eighteenth
century metropolitan taSte. Though much extended after
1797, the house today is still iri the u~der~t~ted, Frenchderived ~ty~e of Brettingham and the Benry Holland circle.
Further alterations and additions were made in the late
1820's by Thomas Duff, and in the later 1830's and '40's by
William Sands as architect.
Visitors today ~re seeing the Castle after a fi~e in
1934 and after a long period of lack of family occupation.
Works' undertaken by an Advisory' coillrnittee have sought to
give more conviction tc) the period feeling of the hosue .as
a country hou~~;. to reinforce and supplement the inherent
character. The principal entrance to the house is on the
west side of the formal courtyard:
coats-of-arms of the
Governors have been carved beneath the portico, which is
"singl~-story, of four p~irs of ~oupled Ionic c6lumns.
..
Behind the Entrance Hall·is the State Dining Room, a threebay room which was the dining room in the original house.
The . Small Dining Room is a near-square .two-bay room, the
drawing ropm in the south-west corner of,the original
house. ~i_:,;: . .
·
The Throne Room is a 'long na~ro~ room of .five bays,
replacirig two smaller.drawi~g r66ms which existed~efore
the fire . . The St.3:te Drawing Room is a long rectangular
five-bay room, :1 ts three· cent~r bays pr~j ~ct.ing behind the
portico.
It was originally the. library.
�WATERFRONT HALL
Waterfront Hall is Northern Ireland's prinbipal
prestige conference and concert ven~e.
Situated in central
Belfast alongside the River Lagan, the Hall commands
striking views of the commercial district, docks and
shipyards, and the river area.
Formally opened in May 1997, Waterfront Hall symbolizes
a renewed vision.of Belfast as a vital, thriving and
energetic business and cultural center.
It is owned and
operated by the City of Belfast, which sees it as the key to
redevelopment of ~he Laganside area as well as the downtown.
It has' been a successful partnership between government and
business.
The Hilton Hotel and an office complex are
scheduled to op~n adja~ent t6 the site in autumn, 19~8.
The main auditorium can be config~red to seat 0p t6
2200 persons.
It is equipped with state of th~ art
·
electr6ni~, lighting and media facilities.
·
The First Lady visited Waterfall Hall in November 1996,
in. connection with. a Northern Ireland youth conference.·
�· WOMEN ELECTED TO THE NI. ASSEMBLY 1998.
NAME
1. CARMEL HANNA
CONSTITUENCY
. SOUTH BELFAST ..
NO. VOTES
. 4,982
PARTY
SDLP ..
2. MONICA MCWlLLIAMS
SOUTH BELFAST ·
5,277
3. BAIRBE DEBRUN
WEST BELFAST
6,994
. SF.
4. SUERAMSEY
WEST BELFAST
7,371.
SF.
5. EILEEN BELL
NORTH DOWN·.
5,900
ALLIANCE
6. JANE MORRICE
NORTH DOWN
2,851
NIWC.
7. PAULINE ARMITAGE
EAST DERRY
3,452
UUP.
8. JOAN CARSON
FERMANAGH/S.TYRONE
5,253
UUP.
9. MICHELLE GILDERNEW
FERMANAGH/S.TYRONE.
4,894
SF.
IO.MARY NElLIS
FOYLE
6,594
SF.
11. PATRICIA LEWSLEY
LAGAN V~LEY
4,431
SDLP.
12. IRIS RO;BINSON
.
STRANGFORD
9,479
DUP.
13. BRID RODGERS
UPPERBANN
9,260
SDLP.
· UPPERBANN
.. 4,714
14. DARAO'HAGAN
..
NIWC.
SF .
�SENT BY:U S EMBASSY LONDON
:20- 8-S8 ,
17:42 ;
POLITICAL SECJ:ION...,
Embmsy of thr Unite
..
Stales of America
;:•
Biographies of women in the Northern Ireland
~per
2026473463:# 2
ssembly
Bann
Dara O'Hagan (Sinn Fein) ·.Studying for doct ate in
·veteran
politics from Queen's University. Daughter
republican-Joe B. O'Hagan, who was freed fro Mountjoy
. Prison, Dublin, with IRA. leader Seamus Twome , in a 1973
helicopteJC· escape. Member of Sinn Fein poli
review and
developmen..t; department which provided.back-u research for
the'party at theCast1e Buildings talks.
arid Rodgers (SDLP) -Born in Donegal but.re
Lurgan
since 1960.
Involved in civil rights moveme
and founding
member of SDLP .. Served as chairman from 197 -80 and general
secretary from 1981-83. First woman to chai an Irish
political par~y. · Elected .to Craigavon counc'l and served
from 1985-93. Member of Irish Senate 1983-B
Delegate to
Brooke and Mayhew talks 1991-93 and chaired DLP talks teams
at Castle Buildings after being elect.ed in 1 96 poll. Party
cpokesman on women~ cultural affairs and par des~ Also
·
.closely involved in monitoring Garvaghy Road situation. in.
Port:adown.
l,Jondonderry East
Paula Armitage (UUP) - Former member of Ulst r Defence
Regiment.
Elected to Coleraine council 1985
Anti-~greement but describes herself as a "soft n "
E'Oyle
Mary N~lis
(Sinn Fein) .. Became sin~1 Fein <:iC ..i.vlsL in 1976
after son'_;was sentenced to 16 years impJ::-ison ent. and joined
blanket pil:-otest.
She carried out picket.t:: at churches
wearing a blanket.
NOrth Down
Eileen Bell (Alliance) - Councillor. Ed.ucat d Dominican
College, Belfast University of Ulster.
Grad ate in history
·--
�SENT BY:U S EMBASSY LONDON
;20- 8-88
17:43
POLITICAL SECTION_,
2026473463;# 3
..
.. '
.. .
~
and politics. General Secretary of Alliance arty 1985-90.
Appointed administrator Peace Train 1992. El cted to North
Down council 1993 .. Senior member of Alliance team at Castle
BUilding talks.
Jane Morrice (NIWC) - Journalist. Former he.a
Coinmission office in Northern Ireland. · Educa
of Ulster. Worked in EU agriculture division
L<:~.tcr joined Prench press agency then BBC NI
business correspondent for five years until 1
1994 cease-fire member of EU task force formu
and reconciliati.on funding programme. Founde
Women's Coalition and participated in Castle
leading·ta--Belfast agreement.
Bel fast West
of European
ed University
.Brussels.
ahour and
92. After
ating peace
member of
uilding talks
·
Beirbre DeBrun (Sinn Fein) - Sinn Fein intern
secretary. Speaks four languages including I
support for Belfast agreement was conditional
being made on polic'ing. justice, and human ri
tional
ish . . Says
on progress
hts.
sue Ramsey (Sinn Fein} - Slnn Feinparty work
many streetwise activists who locked into the
stepped up its political· o:J.ctivity in the afte
l98l hunger strikes.
First involved in youth
then in l992 became full time party worker wi
interest in women's issues.. Organi?.es Twinbr
and serves.pn Sinn Pein-regional·committees.
r.
One of the
pa.i:·ty wheri it
math of the
department,
h special
ok Festival
Belfast South
Carmel Hanna (SDLP) - Nurse/midwife. Works ~ social
services assessing care for the elderly. Ele ted to Belfast
city council in 1997 and serves on planning, ealth and
envirori;ment,. and cultural diversi'ty committee .
·.·~
Monica McW.i.lliams (NIWC) - UnlveL·.sity .lecture
Queen'o University, l3elfast, and University o
Graduate in social policy and urb<:~.n planning.
by health departmeQ.J:i.to.report on domestic vi
Northern ·Ireland .. "'Helped form Women' a coali t
contest Forum elections. Led party delegatio
Building talks. Appointed professor of women
social. policy at University of Ulster in May
.
Educated
Michig!=ln.
Commissioned
lence in
on in time to
at
Cr.~stle
s studies and
998. A
�SB~T
..
'
BY:U S EMBASSY LONDON
;20- 8-S8
17=44
POLITICAL SECTION-"
2026473463;# 4
....
radical voice.
in assembly.
Will stimulate and emliveln po itical debate
Strang ford
Iris Robinson (DUP) - Wife of DUP deputy lead r Peter
Robinson.
They meL·aL Castlereagh technical allege where
she was .studying shorthand and typing.
Enter·d polftic::al
life in 1989 when she was elected to Cast:lere gh. council.
Served two terms as mayor.
In 1983 went to p ison for ·
refusal to pay fines arising frnm protest:s ag inst AngloIrish agreement and public order legislat:ion.
Following
constituency boundary changes, moved into Str ngford
const1tuencyand scored impressive vote again t sitting·MP
John Taylor.in 1996 forum election and.genera election the
following year.
Ferrnanagh and South Tyrone
Joan Carson (UUP) - Retired school principal.
Life-long
party member.
Secretary of constituency asso·iaL.i.on.
Member Dungannon council.
Michelle Gilderncw (Sinn Fein) - Sinn Fein re·
Britain.
Educated University of Ulster, Cole
for periods in American and Au9tralia.
Part
.at first talks with British government
1997.
Older .family members involved· in .inci
in 1968, when houses we're occupied to' d:r·aw at
unfair· allocations, which is now recogni.zed·t
of the civil rights campaign.
Lagan
resentative in
aine. Work~d
f delegation
ing Street in
nt at Caledon
ention to
be the start ·
Valley
She
Patricia Lewsley {SDLP) - Chairman SDLP wome 's group.
was first elected to Belfast city council l99
Member
Women's P~~i ti~al FcJrum.
Campaigns on disab · ity and
special ii:eeds iri education.
Director oj:
nity Work
Programme and Shopmobility, Belfast.
. ':-;-,.
�Key Ireland I Northern Ireland websites
Irish Times newspaper
U/s'ter Democratic Party
Beffast Telegraph newspaper ,
Progressive Unionist Party
Irish Independent newspaper
Orange Order
Andersontown News
Northern Ireland Information Centre
British Government· Northern Ireland Office
Pe;:~ce
Irish Government
US. Embassy Dublin
Sinn Fein
lntiernational Fund for Ireland
http://www.irish-times.com/
http://www.udp.org/
http://www.t:;elfasttelegraph.eo.uk/
. http://www.independent.ie/
htt:p://www.pup.org/
http:l/www.gpl.net/customers/goli/
http://www. iol. ie/andersonstown-news/
http://www.nio.gov.ukl
http://www.nireland.com/
In Northern Ireland
http://www.megastories.com/ireland/
. ·
http://www.indigo~ie/usembassy-usis/
http://www.irlgov .ie/iveagh/
_
http://sinnfein.ie/
http://www.intl-fund-ireland.org/
Ulster Unionist Party
Rc;wal Ulster Constabulary
Social Democratic Labour Party
Irish Prisoners of War
Democratic Unionist PartY.
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Committee for the Administration of Justice
Irish National Congress
http://www.ruc.police.uk/
http://www.uup.orgf
http://www.larkspirit.com/ipow/
http://www.sdlp.ie/sdlp/
http://www.northern-ireland.com/
http://www.dup.org.ukl.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/
Comm_Admin_JustJce/
http://www.knight-hub.com/inc/
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
http://www.pit.edu
British Information Services (New York)
http://www.britain-info.org
Industrial Dev!!lopfT!ent Board for Northern Ireland
http://www.Jdllm.com
.·
�08/21/98
FRI~~5 FAX 2026475JJ7
PIACW
~002
\
.•
Vital -·-v/___.
Votces ,r-
#-·~
.
D~
'
.
men
emocracy
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Vital Voices Belfast; US Participants Briefing
Monday, August 24, 1998 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
U.S. Department of State- Room 7516
I.
IDtroduc:tion/Ovcrview
Theresa Loin, Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues. U.S. Department of State
n
The First Lady's Commitment to the Vaal Voices Initiative
Melanne Verveer, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, The White House
W.
Secretary Albright's Commitment to Integrate Issues Aff1~ting Women into tbc
Mainstream of Americall.Foreign Policy
Ambassador Wendy Sherman, Counselor. U.S. Department of State
IV.
USG Policy i_n Northern lrehmd
Larry Butler, Director of European Affairs, National Security Council, The White House
Ra:ody Bell, Actillg Depul)' Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and
Canadian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
V.
The Northern Ireland Pc.mlpedi,,e
Peter Smythe, Director of the Northern Jrdand Bureau in the British Embassy
VL
The Current Situation in Northeru lreland
Paul Arthur, U.S. fnstitute for Peace
Rosemary O'Neill, U.S. Department of State
Virginia Manuel, U.S. Department of Commerce
VU.
Vlll
Questions aDd Allnver:s Session
All Participants
Conference AgcD.da
Alyse Nelson, Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues,
U.S. Department of State
IX.
X.
Partnership Opportunities and Conference Roles
Theresa L<lar, U.S. Department of State
Press Ground Rules
Mary Ellen Glynn; Senior Adivsor, Voic~ of America
Pat Lewis, Djrector of Public and Media Outreach, U.S. Department of Agri.cullure
XI.
.American Citizens Security
To Be Detennined; Bureau of Diplomatic SccuriLy, U.S. Department of State
To Be Determined: Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Dc.:partm~nt of State
as of .8/21/98
A Confercnc;e sponsored by the Governrnent of The United States &. The Secretary of St<lte for Northern Ireland
in conjunction with n1e First <'nd Deputy first Ministers of the Shadow Northern Ireland Assembly
Vit.'\1 Voice.::$ Confere!'lce. c;o 31 Sp.a .Road, Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, 8Tl4 81)T. Nortl'lern lrd,lnd
�08/21/98
FRI 19:25 FAX 2026475337
PIACW
.
Belfast. Northern lfeland
August 20) 1998
Dear Vital Voices Belfast Participant,
We are looking forward to working with you on the Vital Voices: Women in
Democracy Conference in Northern Ireland_ Vital Voices is an on-going global initiative
which seeks to establish new relationships, expand partnerships, and. secure resources to
strengthen the role of women in democracy.
We invite you to join U.S. participants for a briefing at the State Department on
Monday, August 24 in room 7516 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The briefing will provide an
opportunity for government and nongovernmental experts to highlight the issues to be
discussed in Belfast and to provide an overview of the conference themes_
Thank you for your interest in making Vital Voices Belfast a true and lasting
success_ We are looking forward to seeing you on August 24th. Please RSVP and
provide your security clearance information (social securit-y number and date of birth) to
Bridget Fogarty at (202) 647-5440 or by fax (202) 647-5337.
Sincerely,
--Jii?ve.J~
Theresa Loar
.
Director, Vital Voices Initiative
.
'
A Conference sponsored by {he Government of The United States&.. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
in conjunctio11 with The First ar\d Deputy First Ministers of the;: Shadow Northetn Ireland Assembly
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Page 9/11
\1
recently imposed a 22 percent levy and instituted other regulations on fruit and vegetables
imported from Bosnia. Ahmed Smajic, the Bosnian agriculture minister, sent a letter to
'Darinko Bago, the Croatian ambassador in Sarajevo, protesting the actions as derailing
·"
economic cooperation between the two countries. Croatian farmers are also upset about the
government's imposition of a 22 percent tax on the money they receive from government
purchases of their grains. PB.
ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES PLAN. TO COLLECT ARMS .. The.
parliament on 5 August approved legislation aimed at' accelerating th~ collection of
unregistered weapons. The creation of a central disarmament commissio:J?., headed by
Minister of Local Government Bashkim Fino, is envisaged. Local disarmament commissions .
are to carry out the nationwide action to collect weapons over the next year. The authorities
will first appeal to the people to hand over their weapons voluntarily; those who fail to do so
will be liable to punishment. The law, however, allows several categories of Albanian
civilians to keep their weapons. More than 600,000 arms were looted from depots during
unrest in 1997. Police have so far collected only a small number of those arms. FS .
ALBANIAN COMMISSION PRESENTS DRAFf CONSTITUTION. Minister for
Institutional Reform Arben Malaj on 5 August said the commission drafting a new
constitution, which he heads, has finished 'its work and will send the latest draft to the
parliament for approval. The parliament will'discuss the draft in September--after the summer
recess--and is scheduled to submit it to a referendum on 22 November. A preliminary version
of the draft has been published in newspapers over the last two weeks. Albania's current
constitution is based on constitutional provisions passed by the parliament in 1991 to replace
the communist basic law. FS
BULGARIANS DIVID~ OVER ZHIVKOV'S LEGACY. Commenting on the death of
Todor Zhivkov on 5 August, Bulgaria's reformist president, Petar Stoyanov, said the former
Communist dictator had overseen "one of the darkest periods of recent Bulgarian history ....
Eight million Bulgarians lived during that long period with their work, dreams, and illusions,
but also in fear and political repression." He added that "with the death ofTodor Zhivkov, the
era of Bulgarian communism is finally ending." The Bulgarian Socialist Party, which
reinstated the ousted leader as a member earlier this year, praised Zhivkov and predicted
"generations of Bulgarians would link his name to hard but creative work and a secure and
easierlife," BTA reported. JN .
.
. .
·
UZBEKISTAN TURNS BELIEVERS INTO CRIMINALS
by Felix Corley
In Uzbekistan, religious believers of all faiths are waiting in trepidation as the 15
August deadline for their commuq.i~ies to lodge re-registration applications with the Ministry
of Justice approaches. Undet registration regulations issued)n a 20 June decree of the
Council of Ministers, religious communities (such as mosques, churches, synagogues, and
temples) have to provide extensive documentation to back up their applications, which the
. ministry must process within three months. ·.. . .
.
.
~ Even for those with documentation' thai: meets the strict new requirements set out
, '\~:~Jinder the revised law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations, adopted by
·· parliament on 1 May, it is by no means certain that the Ministry of Justice will grant
registration . .The government and, in particular, President Islam Karimov have made clear
their dislike of M tiSlirns outside the control of the government-sponsored Muslim Board.
Karimov has made frequent verbal attacks on such Muslims, whom he routinely dubs
· "Wahhabi fundamentalists," regardless of whether they have any links with the form of Islam
found in Saudi Arabia.
· . · Indeed, Karimov cited the presence of such Muslims in Uzbekistan as the justification
for the adoption of the harsh new law. During debates in the parliament, Karimov blamed
. .· :.-'; >.
RFE/RL Newsline
.B
August 71998
�PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
"
•
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U.S. Department of State • 2201 C St., NW • Room 2906 • Washington, D.C. 20520
Telephone (202)647-6227 • Fax (202)647-5337
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�'Qt·18· OPINION
·THE IRISH, TIM£S,·Tinirsday.' September 3,'1998
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·ngOefence Forces, require a long-term
,le' ··n·· Aw·•o·'b1~c+t.:ilAC.
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. :'determines the manpOwer rcqui~ eQuiP"'
meat, liospitals ;and . evacuation mutes in
the eveilt of an attack on *Eagte•. ·They
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'MM;; ~ isOO ~-~--be inVolved
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providing pi:oteo-
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· ·
Ranger -Wing: Will remain
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pc:rsoDriet: ·
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worldwidc,coinmunica~
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been established at an'_
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Elizabeth R. Newman
05/07/98 02:23:26 PM
Record Type:
To:
rJv
Record
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
cc:
Subject: Statement by the President: New Initiatives in Support of Peace in Northern Ireland
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 7, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
New Initiatives in Support of Peace in Northern Ireland
Today, I met with ten women and men representing the WAVE Center
in Northern Ireland, a support group for those who have been
touched by the political violence of the past three decades.
Each of these extraordinary individuals, representing both
traditions in Northern Ireland, has suffered -- losing members of
their families or being badly wounded themselves.
I was inspired
by their courage in rejecting violence and working for lasting
peace in a land where people are not labeled by religion or
national preference; inspired by their vision of a future marked
by reconciliation and cooperation. And I will never forget their
personal stories of sorrow and suffering, stories which are
shared by many people of both communities in Northern Ireland.
WAVE proves hatred can be overcome by hope, division can give way
to unity, as victims of Northern Ireland's tr~gic past work
together for a brighter future~
The Good Friday Agreement, forged by an extraordinary group of
leaders representing the full range of Northern Ireland society
and politics, offers the people of Northern Ireland the chance of
a lifetime to secure a lasting peace.
It is time for all the
parties to say no -- once and for all -- to violence and yes to
hope, to make a decisive break with the past and to launch a
brighter future.
There is no better way to 'honor the sacrifice
of the people with whom I met today -- and so many more like
them.
�~
.
America has
continue to
realize the
accompanied
stood by those who have stood for peace, and we will
do our part to help the people of Northern Ireland
tangible benefits of peace -- so the despair that
violence can give way to faith in the future.
Since 1993, this Administration and the Congress have contributed
$100 million to the International Fund for Ireland for Northern
Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland.
I am
today announcing·a series of actions to bolster the foundations
of peace.
First, I am committed to seeing that the new West Belfast
Springvale Campus project is completed.
I intend to work with
Congress to make available up to $5 million to make this happen.
As a first step, I am directing Jim Lyons, my advisor for
economic initiatives, who is also our observer on the Board of
the International Fund of Ireland, to confirm that the IFI will
approve those funds.
Four years ago, at our initiative, we and
·our partners in the IFI provided the initial 5 million pounds
that seeded this project.
Straddling the Peace Line that once
divided Protestant from Catholic, the Springvale Campus will give
students of both communities the chance to acquire the education
to match their indomitable spirit - and in so doing, encourage
cohesion, community pride and economic growth.
I am asking the United States Information Agency to support the
Springvale Campus with its full range of educational programs,
including Fulbright, International Visitors and Citizen
Exchanges .. ·USIA will also foster links between Springvale and
one or more American universities to promote cooperation between
their faculties and establish long-term ties.
Second, the United States is committed to helping the communities
in Northern Ireland build the new institutions created by the
April 10 accord.
The new Assembly will give the people both a
voice and a stake in their peace, but the challenges to create a
functioning institution are great. My Administration will work
with Congress to make available $500,000 as soon as possible to
fund programs to support this effort.
Third, Secretary Daley will visit Northern Ireland in early June
with a high-level U.S. business delegation to intensify what is
already a substantial economic relationship.
With peace holding
firm, there are strong business opportunities we must pursue now
to boost prosperity and the hope for the future that is crucial
to the foundations of peace.
Fourth, USIA is supporting the collaboration of the Philadelphia
Jobs Initiative with Worktrain, a Northern Ireland "
�.....
welfare-to-work" initiative.
I will meet with representatives of
the two organizations during the U.S.-EU Summit in London.
Finally, I am pleased to annourlce a Vital Voices Conference to be
held in Belfast in early fall, with co-sponsorship from the
United States and regional partn~rs.
This conference will
showcase and support women's role in the economic and political
life of their society.
The women of Northern Ireland -- wives,
mothers and daughters -- have borne an enormous share of the
trauma of The Troubles.
Now, their participation will be
essential tQ build a future of ·peace and reconciliation.
I've
asked the First Lady to travel to Belfast to take part in this
important conference.
We have seen around the 'NOrld how Americans have rallied to help
the lands of their ancestors.
I hope the Irish American
Community will continue to support the voices of peace in
Northern Ireland.
My Ad1ninistration will continue to do all we
can to foster hope and healing in Northern Ireland, and to help
its people build a new age of peace for their families and future
generations.
# # #
Message Sent To:
�-~'";_
--
:s"'(G(\
.. -·~'1(11'
NORTHERN IRELAND
WOMEN'S COALITION
Block B
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3ST
PEARL SAGAR
Telephone
Facsimile:
Mobile
E-Mail:
Nl)I/TIII:IlN llr,NV.IINIVEIISITVSrlll:l:riii:IJ'I\;,-r
0 1232 5221 8'7
01232 7 68917
0370 570315
niwc @ iol.ie
i
Monica McWiiLLiams
C£.i!.B1lH@il!l
<9 '•.
,.,
..~'om e.('
NORTI1ERN IRELAND WOMEN'S COAliTION
5'2 fhnv.-ood ,'\vcnul!, Bdfn•,t, !H9 6Al
lei: (017.3'11 .1221B7/I>RillA
Mobil(l: \0370! )70314
Northern B(ln'•,, ur.i..rct<.i!;: SIH:•.:t.
fa" \012321 768917
(moiL nlwc@ioUe.
lhd!o~i
!3onk A/C No: 412ll986
II1\N;: I\IC No •II/.! 1'1111·
NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN'S COALITION
Pearl Sagar
Monica McWilliams
011-44-1232-522187
E-mail: niwc@iol.ie
Women have not traditionally played a role in politics in Northern Ireland. There
are no women members of Parliamcntor the European Parliament from Northern Ireland.
The NIWC won two scats at the peace table and has made a valuable and unique
contribution to the negotiations. Women have a key role to play in selling the peace and
framing our new stable society. The traditional parties will not stand women in winnable
seats.
NIWC's challenge is to create the organization necessary to elect women candidates
in June, 1998.
Goals
1.
Support use of the list system to govern the June elections.
2..
Schedule a trip for the First Lady to Northern Ireland to promote the
importance of women voting.
3.
Help to identify leadership in the US to spearhead fundraising efforts.
�.._.
...
NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN'S COALITION
Pearl Sagar
Monica McWilliams
011-44-1232-522187
E-mail: niwc@iol.ie
Women have not traditionally played a role in politics in Northern Ireland. There
are no women members of Parliament or the European Parliament from Northern Ireland.
The NIWC won two scats at the peace table and has made a valuable and unique
contribution to the negotiations. Women have a key role to play in selling the peace and
framing our new stable society. The traditional parties will not stand women in winnable
seats.
NIWC's challenge is to create the organization necessary to elect women candidates
in June, 1998.
Goals
1.
Support use of the list system to govern the June elections.
2.
Schedule a trip for the First Lady to Northern Ireland to promote the
importance of women voting.
3.
Help to identify leadership in the US to spearhead fundraising efforts.
�~~
Mrs Pearl Sagar
29 Grand Parade
Belfast BT5 SHG
BlockB
Castle Buildings
Stonnont BT4
Tel: 01232 703698 or fax 01232 703698
Tel: 0370 570315
29 March 1998
,))ear dd~
Just a briefnote to say Thank you, to the First Lady and yourselffor meeting with us,
It was a pleasure to meet with you both, and also a great privilege,
Since our meeting Carol Wheeler from Proje.ct Children has been in contact with me in
relation to, the possibility of two women from the Coalition, of University age
joining one ofher programm,~s, I am presently looking into to this for her with the
Coalition, I would like to thank you for speaking to heL
I would also like to follow up the request made by me to the First Lady regarding a
possible visit to Northern Ireh1nd to talk about the importance ofwomen voting, I
know this is something that is dear to your he.arts and ours, I would be pleased to
keep in contact with you in relation to this matter, and would also be grateful for any
other infonnation or help that you could give us,
On a personal note, would it be possible for you to send us copies ofthe photograph
we had taken with the First Lady, Ifyou could I would be very gratefuL
Yours sincerely
~---=:J.,.x-Pearl Sagar
Elected Representative
NTW,C
�F.'..J,.·l~
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 16, 2000
For Immediate Release
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT AMERICAN IRELAND FUND'S 8TH NATIONAL GALA DINNER
Center Hall
National Building Museum
Washington, D.C.
9:42 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: President Glucksman, Mr. Aikins,
Senator Mitchell, members of the administration and Congress who
are here, and our distinguished Ambassadors of the United States
to Ireland and Ireland to the United States. To all the! leaders
of the parties from Northern Ireland who are here.
Secretary Mahdelson and, in his absence from his video,
I would also say I very much appreciate what Tony Blair said
earlier. And, most of all, to you, Taoiseach, I thank you. I
thank you for the award, and I thank the American Ireland Fund
for all it has done for peace and progress in Ireland.
And I want to say that this is about the most beautiful
piece of Irish crystal I've ever seen. (Applause.) It also
bares, as my wife said, a remarkable resemblance to a gc,lf ball.
(Laughter.) And it is only for that reason and because he does
not play, that I do not feel constrained to let it reside for
half a year with George Mitchell -- (laughter and applause) -- to
whom we are all profoundly indebted. (Applause.)
You know, basically, I don't believe that presidents
should get awards; the job itself is reward enough. But I'm
honored and pleased to have this one, because, for me, the work
for peace that I have done and our administration -- Hillary,
through the Vital Voices networks -- it's been a labor of love at
all hours of the day and night and through many months of
frustration, through all of the .efforts I've made just to
understand, sometimes, the fights which seem to me to be
inexplicable.
So much has been accomplished in the last two years,
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especially, but.really over the last almost eight years. At the
moment, we wish.that the institutions were up, not down; we wish
that everybody was in agreement, not feeling frustrated; but we
must never forget that the cease-fires now are measured in years,
not weeks, that people now shop in their downtowns without fear
of bombs going off, that the gradual return to normal life was
again reflected today in the announcement of the British
government that further troops will be redeployed for d~ty
outside Northern Ireland, leaving no army battalion resident in
Belfast for the first time in 31 years. (Applause.)
More than 300 prisoners from both sides have been
released, human rights and equality commissions have beem formed,
police reform is underway, and we are looking forward tc• the
reform of the criminal justice system. A peace dividend
has begun to take hold in Northern Ireland's economy, more people
employed there than ever before, unemployment the lowest in 20
years. Tourists up by 11 percent last year alone, American
visitors doubling in the last decade, rising investment in trade
and economy becoming as modern as that of our Irish and British
counterparts.
I am very proud of the role the United States has
played in this economic rebirth as well. The International Fund
For Ireland, to which we are the largest donor, has leveraged
$1.5 billion of direct investment, helping to create ove.r 30,000
jobs. The Walsh visa program will bring thousands of young
Irish men and women to the United States for education and
training, especially in high-tech areas.
Our new micro-lending program, Aspire, is inspiring
small business and entrepreneurs at a rapid rate. And as the
Taoiseach said, a year ago at this time, the people of Northern
Ireland did not enjoy self-rule. Last year, the assembly was
established, the executives, the bodies were put to work, and lo
and behold, the Irish were pretty good at self-governmenl: in the
North as well. Ministers from both sides met together, \~orked
together, took care of constituents together, made mistakes
together and learned together -- just the sort of thing
democratic governments ought to do everywhere.
They were successfully tackling some of their t:oughest
shared problems and building structures for cross-border
cooperation with the Irish Republic.
Now what? Well, we must begin by respecting the will
of the people. After all, they voted in record numbers not for
stalemate and delay, but for progress and peace. The threat of
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- 3 -
violence from whatever source must be removed forever, from
Northern Ireland's politics clearly and unequivocally.
At the same time, the people have the right tc> expect
their leaders, with the support of the Irish and British
governments, to show vision and goodwill, to come together to
establish a basis upon which the new institutions can be restored
and the Good Friday Accord can be implemented in full just as the
people voted.
The United States and all the friends of peace must do
all we can to assist, to honor the heroic efforts of Senator
Mitchell, to reaffirm our lasting pledge that so long as the
people of Northern Ireland walk the road of peace, we will walk
with you. Tomorrow at the White House I will be discussing this
with the parties, and listening, and working for an answer.
The last century began with bloodshed across Ireland,
and across the United States in our cities, signs that r!2ad, "No
Irish need apply." This one begins with the best hope for Irish
peace in our lifetimes, and with Irish and Americans of every
background gathered in Washington to rejoice in Ireland'::; rich
contributions to America's national life.
I don't know that I've had so much to do with this, the
progress that has been made. Tonight, I am more burdene9 by the
fact that I have not found an answer for the present stalemate.
But I will say this: I have loved Ireland. My wife and my
daughter have loved Ireland, North and South. We love the music,
the dance, the language, the land.
If Mr. Yeats was right when he said, "our glory begins
and ends in our friends," I can say truly, I have simply tried to
be a friend. But as a friend who, unlike Taoiseach here, has a
term limit, and therefore, who no longer has to stand for
election, I must honestly say that I have spent an enormcms
amount of time as President comforting the victims of violence,
mostly Americans, the people who died in Croatia trying t:o help
overcome ethnic and religious hatred in the Balkans, the people
who died in a terrorist bombing in the Middle East, trying to
help the people of that land and region find a different way, the
Irish victims of the Omagh bombing, the children's families who
died in the school shootings in America and on and on.
And I have spent a great deal of time trying to decide
exactly what it. is that makes people define the meaning of their
lives in terms of their differences -- their religious, their
racial, their ethnic, their tribal differences. And how those
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�- 4 -
differences come to be
accumulated grievances
turn the clenched fist
we start -- and what a
just hard to go on and
magnified in our minds, along with the
of past wrongs so that we are·paralyzed to
into the open hand. And, how, e"en when
start we have made in Ireland -- it is
easy to stop.
I must confess, as your friend, I still do not know the
answer to these things. But I do know that life is fleE!ting, and
opportunities and also go. We have the chance of a lifE!time
here. You have done it -- all of you, the Irish parties, have
done this. The British have done it. We Americans, we've just
been friends. But good friends tell each other the truth, the
loving truth. Whatever the differences, it's not worth another
life --not one. It's not worth another day's delay, much less a
year. We're all just passing through this old world with an
amount of time which we know not.
We're really happy and proud to be here tonight because
we sense that good things have happened because people rose above
their fears, their hatred, their honest wounds, their deep scars,
to give a better future to their children. They're still out
there, and they're still waiting. We have to find a way to put
this back on track. And if we do, everyone will win. And that
beautiful crystal piece there, it'll be a crystal ball, showing a
way to our children's tomorrow.
Thank you, and God bless you.
END
(Applause.)
9:57 P.M. EST
�•.
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2050<.t
January 21, 1999
FOR FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
BUTLE~
FROM:
LARRY
SUBJECT:
Northern Ireland Political Leadership-Opportunity
for Women Event, Friday, January 22 at 10:45 a.m.
Setting
You·are greeting the participants of' Mary Louise Oates'
initiati~e:to provide a cross-section of Northern Irish women
political activists with a week-long seminar (program attached)
covering the nuts-and-bolts of political action. Most promiherit
among the 20 attendees are Daphn~ Trimble (spouse of First
Minister David Trimble), Inez. McCormick (head of Ireland's
combined trade.union movement)· and Geraldine McAteer. They are
relatively young -- the average age is under 40, meariing that.
they have grown up with the Troubles.·
You are meeting them following Mo Mowlam's ~uccessful broketing
of yet another cliff-:hanger deal that moved Good Friday
implementation closer to its final goal. Though the mood on the
ground is generally grim, andsubject to.fluctuations, there is
reason for optimism. Your objectives wi tr1 this group is: .
•
Indicate your strong support for follow through on the
September Vi tal Voices Conference in Be,lfast.
•
Reaffirm the President's undiminished commitment to supporting
implementation of the Good Friday Accord.
•
Remind them that thanks to hard work and despite .occasional
setbacks, much good has happened since 'Good Friday and that ··
their commitment ~s critical to the perl,tnanence of peace and·
·establishment of social equality and justice in Northern
Ireland.
Trimble-accepted February 15 as the date Hhen the Assembly.will
formally vote on establishing the new Executive, after which
Mowlam is free to start the process of naming the new ministers.
H~ skillfully secured a large majority of unionist votes in
support of this. This frames up the final step clearly -- a
�----------------------
2
substantial IRA gesture on decommissioning or a bold political
gamble by unionists to move forward· in th1= absence of an IRA
gesture will unlock the rest of the process.
The target date
for devolution is March 10, though Mowlam has allowed for a
month's slippage to factor in the contribution our St; Patrick's
Day events can make if necessary.
The combination of Mowlam and
Blair, teamed with Bertie Ahern and the President is the best
guarantee that peace will succeed and endure.
However, Tony Blair told the President today that he is
concerned at the prospect for renewed violence.
He bases this
fear on increasing "street" violence in the form of IRA and
Loyalist punishment attacks on members of their own communities,
and on sporadic, and minor, acts of terrorism by renegade
elements on both sides.
Nonetheless, and in the face of strong
Tory criticism, Blair is holding £irm on continuing prisoner
releases and the other confidence-building areas of the. Good
Friday Accord.
The political·context for Women in Northern Ireland (adapted
from a NI Academic paper)
The Northern Ireland Assembly elections were encouraging for
progress in women's participation in the political process as 14
of the 108 seats went to women candidates.
However, this is
still unacceptably low and the majority is tilted to nationalist
parties -- five for Sinn Fein and three for SDLP (Unionists
placed three women in the Assembly, Monica McWilliams' Women's
Coalition snagged two seats~ though Pearl Sagar failed in her
bid, and the remaining seat went to the Alliance Party) .
Anyone looking at television footage of political leaders
assembling for the all party talks or giving interviews could be
forgiven for.thinking that women h~ve had a limited involvement
in the peace process.
The reality is different.
Women have
made a distinctive and significant 6ontribution to the search
for peace in Ireland over many years and are playing-an
increasingly vital role at many levels.
This·has not been easy~
Ireland, and Northern Ireland in
particular, is a (decreasingly) conservative society where
women's roles were defined primarily in relation to home and.
family.
Some of the women involved in the early phases of th~
Civil Rights Movement remember.participating in marches and
demonstrations demanding "one man, one vote," without any
consciousness of the implicit anomaly.
Such contradictions held
true across both communities and were accentuated by the
�3
religious and social structures through which women were
elevated as symbols of community identity and bearers of
tradition but precluded from a public roh:~ in the negotiation
and re-negotiation of those traditions.
At a·practical level women have faced many problems in becoming
involved in the initiatives that underlay the start of the peace
process. Many had to combine community and campaigning
·· activities with responsibilities to family'· home and employment.
Amid all this .many have also suffered terrible personal
tragedi~s~ 16ss of close relatives or friends and disruption of
family life, as a direct result of violence. Such e~perientes
erected barriers of suspicion and fear between women and it is
hard to overestimate the effort that has been needed to begin
the process of dismantling them.
But out of all these problems, perhaps because of them, women
have made a vital and distinct, if undervalued, contribution to
the search for peace. In the initial·phase of the current
"Troubles" during the early 1970s, women were involved in the
first groups, such as .Women Together and Women for Peace, which
emerged struggling to put some control on the spread and impact
of violence, to keep communities together through disruption and
intimidation and to begin the long process of building and
rebuilding bridges across .the community divide.
Pioneers such as Sadie Patterson and Margaret Dougherty took
courageous steps in a hostile environment to begin the search
for reconciiiation. The major outpouring of feeling against
violence which was channeled into the mass maiches and rallies
of the Peace Peopl.e during 1976 and 1977 brought many women into
a more public role since the movement was largely led and
supported by women, notably Nobel Peace Pl:ize Laureates Betty
Williams and Mairead Corrigan (John Hume'n wife, Pat, is a
defacto Laureate given her partnership in his 30 year quest for
peace that earned h~ and David Trimbl.e a share of his recent
Nobel. prize as his partner the past 30 years; the same goes for
Daphne Trimble, though that couple is a more recent entry to the
political. scene)~
· The experience 6f that period showed women trying to move
outside the existing political structures, a distinctive and
recurring theme in the contribution women have made to the peace
process. While some judgements have labeled it as a phase of
naive optimism that did little to reduce violence o~ break the
traditional political mold, for many women
was a crucial
experience. ~hey gained insights and Understandings that .led
�4
them to involvement in a whole range of groups and initiatives
focusing on practical social issues, inter-denominational
contacts and community reconciliation.
As a result the 1980s, which seemed to be a period of marking
time for women's influence, it can now be reassessed as a decade
of "quiet revolution." Women became increasingly active at all
sorts of levels in community groups, professional organizations
and the trade unions - focusing on social, economic and
environmental problems. Women worked on the provision of
employment opportunities, expansion of ch.ildcare provision,
promotion of life-long education and awareness of women's health
problems~
Through their campaigning, difficult questions such as domestic
violence and rape became part of the public policy agenda and
women took active steps to provide wo~en's refuges and help
lines. Women also continued to be heavily involved in
organizations combating intimidation and sectarianism,
supporting victims of violence ~nd their families seeking
increased understanding between the churches with many
individuals actively networking across a whole range of groups.
You and the President met with one such g:roup, WAVE, last May.
In addition to the practical benefits of these actions, there
was gain for future political involvement as women developed a
range of skills of communication and presentation. They also,
critically for the peace process, forged meaningful.links across
communities in order to address problems that transcended
political divisions.
Altho~gh in many cases women overtly rejected the description of
their activities as political, throughout the 1980s they built a
basis for inputs to the peace .process through establishing
credibility and the practical value of their ·contribution.
By
the early 1990s, community groups led by women were playing a
significant role in defusing tensions around sectarian murders
and intimidation and building local accomnodations and
understandings.
This was in a real sense "second track"
political activity carried on often out of the limelight and
with limited access to resources but of enormous benefit to all
sectors of Northern Ir~land society.
At the same time women were not afraid to face the "difficult
issues," areas which were bound to provoke controversy in a
divided society: the relationship between feminism and
nationalist and unionist ide6logies, and the appropriate
�5
response to the treatment of women prisoners convicted of
terrorism offenses . (primarily IRA-affiliated) .
Through handling such questions and accepting that there would
be serious differences, women were able to work out strategies,
which allowed them to accept differences in some areas without
rejectirig the possibility of working together on others.
Seeing
diversity as a normal, even a positive attribute, rather than a
threat, is ~ lesson which many of them hope will not be lost on
male politicians.
After the experiences and community-based successes of the
1980s, it was not surprising that with the recent cease-fires
and the b~ginning of the negotiation process, women's voices
began to be more clearly heard. Women are now more actively
involved in most of the political parties,. some of which now
formally recognize the importance and vall1e of having a
proportion of women representatives (rtotably Sinn Fein and SDLP)
ahd the. formation of the Wornenrs Coalition .has had both direct
and indirect effects.
The whole process through which the Women's Coalition carne into
existence is a clear example of the contribution women are now·
making to th~ peace process.
There was extensive debate among
women in a spectrum of or,ganizations with links across
geographical, social, economic and generational differences -·
such as The Northern Ireland Women's European Platform,' The
Derry Women' s Centre, · the Shank ill Women' ~~ Forum and the Women' s
Information Group.
They considered the central question of whether women should
seek to engage in the peace process primarily by working through
the existing political groupings that reflected their community
allegiances or whether they should form a new organization.
They sought to erigage in dialogue with the established parties
to gain inclusion of women representative groups and delegations
and to ensure that issues that impact on women's lives were
addressed in party platforms.
Only when it became clear that most of the parties were not
receptive to this approach did they move to establish the
Coalition.
In developing policies and positions within the
Coalition, women have also provided pointers for the peace
process by their decision to put a formal view on the
"constitutional position" on hold in order to allow discussion
and the possibility of real negotiation and accommodation.
(note -- the Assembly elections seem to have indicated that
�6
there are limitations to the broader appeal of a gender-oriented
political party) .
There has also been a vital contribution to the peace process by
many women who are clear that they are "not involved in
politics." Their activities in such things as "Talking and
Listening Circles," and "Women in the Churches" project, the
Women's Festivals held in small towns, and the "Beyond Violence~
conference - linked to the ongoing work o:E Family and community
center -- contain implicit actions and demands that are
inseparable from the peace process.
So over thirty years, in ways adapted to their varied
circumstances, women have continued to contribute to deepening
the conceptualization of a peaceful society in Northern Ireland.
Particularly over the last years, they have made an important
contribution to the peace process by increasing the range of
options, many of which other groups find it difficult to
articulate because of their historical backgrounds.
One distressing area, one which however distasteful, needs to be
recognized, is the dismissive and sexist treatment of women
activists by a number of prominent members of some political
parties and organizations - as illustrated by the humiliating
experiences of Women's Coalition members in the Forum~ This is
a hangover from the past when women's public role was not
recognized, and one which women are determined must.finally be
swept away as part of a wider peace process.
'
'
�CPA
.
}
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1999 NORTHERN IRElLAND
POLITICAL.LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY .· ·
. FOR WOMEN
.
.
January 18-23, 1999 ·
.
.
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.
· Doyle Washington Hotel.·
1500 New Be~mpakire,.NW
. Walrlngton; DC
.
· This O]J]JO.,.,.IIity U made possible by II grant .
. from Lynne Wtllserman, the Wassen.n.an Foundation.
It is hosted by. the Center for Policy AltertUJtives,
with support from Shrum, Devine & Donilon; · ·
. conceived and organized by Marylotdse Otlles. · .. ·
'
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'
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:,
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.
.
:·,.
'
.'
:
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· ·rhia opportunity i& a partnership project betweeTtt women of Northern . . .
· · Ireland and women of the United States, a direct outcome of the
· ··Yr.tal Voices: Women in Democracy Conference held in · ·
Belfast, NortluJm Ireland, September 1998. · .
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�CPR
1999 ~rthern a>feland
:gf6Utical 2eadership @l>portunity
·for crl6men
)
.
.
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.
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.
f!Jiease join us for a very special event honoring
·women community activists and newly elected leaders
from Northern Ireland.
rd7upper with~ ~men in (d~vernment
. hosted by Sarah Kovner, Special Assistant to the
· Secretary of Health and Human Se:rvices
on Thursday, January 21, 199,9
6:30pm
· 3001 Dent Place, NW*
· Washington; DC
·.tJlt. r:P. 'P.'!P. to Arme Mosle,
· Cenre1 for Policy Alternatives at .
• (202) ~ '56-5127.
*Dent Place is
located in Georgetown
between Q and R Sr~ets.
This opportunity was made possible by .
a grant from Lynne Wasserman, the Wassemuzn Foundation.
It is hosted by the Center for Policy Alternatives, .
with support from Shrum,.Devine &: Donilon,
conceived and organized by Marylouis;e Oates.
·This 'r;portunity is a partnership project between women of Northern Ireland and women
of the United St(Jres, a direct outcome of the Vital Voices: Women in
· ·Democracy Conference held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, September 1998. ·
�I
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I
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
AND TYPE
002a.agenda
DATE
SUBJECTrflTLE
1999 Northern Ireland Political Leadership Opportunity for Women
January 18-24, 1999 [partial] (4 pages)
1/18/1999
RESTRICTION
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer (Subject Files: Non-Profits- October 7, 1994)
ONBox Number: 20047
FOLDER TITLE:
Northern Island- Vital Voices [1]
2006-0198-F
wr739
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act- [44 U.S. C. 2204(a))
Freedom of Information Act- [5 U.S.C. 552(b)J
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(l) of the PRA)
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office l(a)(2) of the PRA)
PJ Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(J) of the PRA)
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA)
PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA)
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA)
b(l) National security classified information [(b)(l) of the FOIA)
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
an agency [(b)(2) of tbe FOIA)
b(J) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(J) of the FOIA)
b(4) Release would disclose trade ,secrets or confidential or financial
information ((b)(4) of the FOIA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privncy [(b)(6) of the FOIA)
·
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) ofthe FOIA)
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA)
b(9) Release would. disclose geological or geophysical information
concerning Wl!lls [(b)(9) of the FOIA)
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
of gift.
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201(3).
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
�~ : nday, January
o
8:·)()pm
18
Wel~me Supper at the Doyle WaQington B. tel
o
Sponsored by the Duyk Hotel Group
· (Biddy Mulligan's F~ide Lounge)
I! aesday, Januan 19- PoUUta: Nuts and Bolts Day
8:110 un
Continental Bnakfast at tbe Doyle Hotel
(Room: Westbury B & C)
s::.oam
Campaign MauapmeDt: Budgets, PoOing, mad FandrafsfDg
(Room: Doyle B)
Presenters: Mary Beth Cahill
Tad Dcvhle, S1rrvm ~ & Dcmilon
N<on· ·
PoUing: Facts and Fipns
·(The Claddagn Restaarant- Worldng Lunch)
Presenters: . Mike Donilon, Shrum, DeviM & Donilon
Martha McKenna, EMILY'a Liar
2:~0pm
l'aDdralsJag
(Room: Doyle B) .
Presenters:
Mary Jane Volk. EMILY'1 List
Scott Gale, Flllldrt.ltalng Mtlllllgenrent Group. Inc.
commentators:
Julie Fmlcy, Flntmce Clu:rir. Dol, for Prultlent '96
NBDCy Jacobaoo. Democratic ufJ/Urahip Coundl
6:45pm
7:C 0 pm
(Bus will pick you up at hotel for dinner)
· State of the U.Dioa Dinner
Honed By? MaryloiiUe OtJUs iDid Bob Shrum
Addrus.·
- - - - -- ·- -
�~ edngday, Jangary lO- Media Day
W. iAT THE MEDIA ·w ANTS PROM YOU ·
8:( 10 am
ConUneatal Breakfast at lhe Doyle Hotel
· {Room: Westbury B & C)
Andrea Mitchell, Nation4l Brrxuktuting Company (NBC)
lOOOam
12 00 pm
Margaret Carlson, TIIM Magazins
Tom Oliphant. The Bosron Globe
ICatbleen Hendrix, Coruultllllt, Former Stajf Writer, lAs Angeles Times
L1111ch at the Doyle Hotel
(The Claddaga Restaurant) .
·Bay Buchanan, COI1&IMI&tDJor, Bon f(Equal TIIM" CNN
~ lAT TO SA.Y TO T1lll MEDIA
I:~ 0
pm
·
IDdlvlduallzed Media TraiDidg SessiODS
(Room Doyle B)
Trainers:
Guest Reporters:
Mike MUll'by, Republican Meti.Ul Strategist
Bob Shrum, Democ"'"* MetliQ StrQteglsr
Tammy Haddad, Former Prrxluc~r of "lArry King
Live··
Heidi Shulman, Public Broadcasting System
Kitty Kelley, Joumall.Jt ~Author
6:.!5pm
(Bus will pick you up at hotel for dinner)
WJ lATYOU WANT TO ASK TIDJ·MEIJJA
7:( 0 pm
Dbmer
Linda Douglass, Ammcan Broad«Uting Network (ABC)
Cindy Samuels, NfllioNJl Public Radio (NPR)
Margaret Warner, ChU/Wr.ulaington Co"espondmtfot'
"'I'M News Hour with Jim Lehrer"
· · Susan Watters, W MagatJM
Hosted by: - ~~~~~~~-!!!
Address: ·
- -- -
- -····
�Tl1ursday, January 21 - Capitol Bill Day
(Bus wm pick you up at hotel for breakfast)
·s: sam .
9:• ·5am
Contillealal Breaktut Hosted By
Senator Edward M. Kennecty and Senator €hriitopber J. Dodd
(Hart Senate BuDding, Room 902)
· Orpnizing for Yoilr Lecislative AleDcta
(U.S. CapitoL Room HC-9)
Presenters:
9:45- 10:45 Aimc Wexler, The WulerGroup
10:45- 11:45 Ken Doberstein, The Duberstem Group; Inc. (tmtattve)
Mike Berman. T1u! D~rnebt Group. Inc.
Neon
. Bipartisan .l...llllch wJth W~ Se.uaton and Representatives
(U.S. Capitol. Room SC-120)
· Hosted by: S6Mior Barbara Milcullkl and
Repruentatfve Louise Slaughte:
r
·2:ll0 pm
Meedng with AFL-ao Key stidr
(U.S. ·capitoL Room HC·9)
Featuring:
Peggy Taylor, Director ofLegiJ·Ianor~, AFL-CIO
4:t0pm
Advocates from lleliglous OrgaDJzatJou
(U.S. Capitol, Room HC~9)
Speakers:
Mary Elizabeth Clark. SSJ
with lt!Veral o~r orgaizationirzl nprumtllli.vea
. . S:,·S pm
. 6:~ Opm.
(Bus will pick you up for dinner)
Supper with Key Wo~~~e~~ mGovemment
Homd by:
S.arah Kovucr, $peclal A.r.risttznt 10 the Secrntlry of Health
·
tmtl HU111Q1J Services
Address: ·~
Telephone:
�Eriday, January 22 -- Key Sm11s Day
NOTE: BRING YOUR PASSPORT ·t o EDsore Entry into The.White Hoose ·
8: JO am
(Bus will pick you up at hotel for breakfast)
..
8: JOam
Breakfast at the New York Times with ·
Hosted hj: Adam Clymer, Washington Bure<JU Chief, New York Tim:es
Addrus.-
16271 Strut, NW
Wa.~hingto~a,
· TelephOne:
IC:OOam
. 10:45 am
DC
(202) 862..()300
(Bus will pick you up to go to The White HOU$e)
The White Bouse
12·30pm
·(Bus will pick you up to go back to the hotel for lunch)
J:(IOpm-
.Lmaeb
(The Claddagn Restaurant)
2:(0pm
Targeting a:ad Get Oat the Vote ·
Presenters: Michael Matthews, Di'f'f!ctor ofNtltiDnallAbor
PolitictJl TTtlintng Cennr. AF~CIO
Amy Chapman. Assistt1111 Politictd Directorfor
Campaigns, AFL-ClO
4:(0pm
Baildbag a PoUc:y Ageoda
<Room: Westbury B &
Presenters:
C)
Anne Mosie. Centerfor Policy Altemiu'ives
Nora O'CcmncU, Center for Policy Altemattves
7:c:>pm
(Bus will pick you up at the borel for dinner)
7:3lpm
•'WOJiiea'a RJ.pts are Human Rights" Dbmer
Hosted by:
Ambtl8s4dor Nancy Rubin, U.S. Representative ro the
United NtJtions Commi3aion on : uman Rights
H
Address;
�. 332 P08
CPA
~ 1turd8t, January 23 ·
lC:OO am
Clo~g Bnmch wlth U.S. Government and ·~,Mends of Northern
Ireland
HosEed by':
.Dr. Peter Smyth, Director, Nor.them lrelaTid Bureau,
British Embassy, Washington, DC
Address:
Telephone:
· University Club
Roome.·
1135 Jrl' Street, NW
·Washington, DC
(202) 862-8800
Ai ;emoon • . Free Time ·
Ev :ming
*Enjoy Woshington, DC
*
·.• §!; nday, January 24
l:~Opm
Check-out from Doyle Hotel.
3:COpm
Board Bus to National AirpOrt
JAN 18 '99 . 12: 34
�I
I
I I
1
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
AND TYPE
002b. list
DATE
SUBJECTffiTLE
Attendants for Northern Ireland Political Leadership Opportunity for
Women January 18-24, 1999 [partial] (2 pages)
RESTRICTION
1/2011999
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer (Subject Files: Non-Profits- October 7, 1994)
ONBox Number: 20047
FOLDER TITLE:
Northern Island- Vital Voices [I]
2006-0 198-F
wr739
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - (44 U.S.C. 2204(a)).
Freedom of lnform,ation Act- (5 U.S.C. 552(b)J
PI National Security Classified Information ((a)(l) ofthe PRAJ
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office J(a)(2) of the PRAJ
Pl Release would violate a Federal statute ((a)(l) of the PRAI
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
. financial information ((a)(4) of the PRAJ
PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors (a)(S) ofthe PRAJ
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy J(a)(6) of the PRAJ
b(l) National secur·ity classified information J(b)(l) ofthe FOIA)
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
an agency J(b)(2) ofthe FOIAJ
b(l) Release would violate a Federal statute ((b)(l) of the FOIA)
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
information ((b)(4) of the FOIAJ
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privncy ((b)(6) of the FOIAJ
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes ((b)(7) of the FOIA)
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the.regulation of
financial institutions ((b)(8) of the FOIAJ
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
concerning wc~lls ((b)(9) of the FOIA)
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
of gift.
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201(3).
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
I
:
I! I
I
II
I
�..
Campbell. Annie
Campbell. Patricia·
Cooke, Catherine
Northern Ireland
Farrell, Marietta
Hope, Ann
Kelly. Dolores .
Kelly. Theresa
Mallon, Pat
Martin, Jill
McAteer, Geraldine
Mc:Murtry,
Purvis. Dawn
.
.
· Trimble, Daphne
Vance, Joanne Estelle
United Kingdom
�-------------------~-----~
..
White House Visit
(1999 Northern b~d Political Leadership oPportunity for Women) ,
Friday, 1mtiary 22. 1999
I0:45am
-**
TOTAL PRGE. 03
**
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
First Lady's Work on Children’s Issues and Women’s Rights
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
White House Office of Records Management (WHORM)
Caligraphy Office
Chief of Staff
Domestic Policy Council
First Lady’s Office
Management & Administration
Millennium Council
Public Liaison
Special Envoy for the Americas
Women’s Initiative and Outreach
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-2000
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36054" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0198-F Segment 4
Description
An account of the resource
<p>This collection contains records regarding conferences and events attended and hosted by the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The key events in this collection consist of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Vital Voices, Beijing +5, and the Early Childhood Development Conference. The records include background materials in preparation for each of these conferences.</p>
<p>This collection contains records from the following offices: White House Office of Records Management, Calligraphy Office, Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Council, First Lady's Office, Speechwriting, Management & Administration, Millennium Council, Public Liason, Special Envoy for the Americas, and Women’s Initiative and Outreach. The collection includes records created by: Ann Lewis, Harold Ickes, Cheryl Mills, Linda Cooper, Ann Bartley, Lisa Caputo, Lissa Muscatine, Marsha Berry, Eric Massey, Nicole Rabner, Shirley Sagawa, Christine Macy, June Shih, Laura Schiller, Melanne Verveer, Alexis Herman, Ruby Moy, and Doris Matsui.</p>
<p>This collection was was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Office of Records Managment
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
11/14/2014
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
301 folders in 30 boxes
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Northern Ireland - Vital Voices [1]
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 23
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0198-F-4.pdf">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/2068127">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
First Lady’s Office
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0198-F Segment 4
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
11/14/2014
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
42-t-20060198f4-023-007
1766805