Major
Victory for
MacBride
Principles
House and
Senate Conference Approves
Washington, D.C., March 11, 1998 -- In a major development,
the House and Senate Conference of the U.S. Congress approved the
MacBride Principles last night. The
Principles, approved as part of the Foreign Affairs Reform and
Restructuring Act of 1998, mandate that all recipients of funds from the
International Fund for Ireland in Northern Ireland must be in compliance
with the MacBride Principles.
"This is a truly magnificent development in a long campaign
for the MacBride
Principles," said Fr. Sean McManus, President
of the Irish National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby.
"That it comes as a St. Patrick's day gift is particularly
welcome."
The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 will now
go back to the full House and full Senate on Thursday or Friday for
up-or-down vote. Members
must vote yes or no for the entire Bill.
They can not debate or oppose particular sections of the Bill.
That means in effect that the MacBride Principles will be passed.
The Bill will then go to the President for his signature.
Fr. McManus paid special tribute to Congressman Ben Gilman
(R-NY), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, for his
splendid and consistent leadership on the MacBride Principles campaign.
"In all of history Ireland has never had a truer
Congressional friend than Ben Gilman," Fr. McManus stated.
Fr. McManus also praised Sen Al D'Amato (R-NY): "Sen D'Amato
also played a key role in persuading Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), Chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, not to oppose the MacBride
Principles being included in the Bill."
