RICHARD E.

NEAL ,,'•• COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

SECOND DISTRICT, MASSACHUSETTS _& ~.b_ CHAIRMAN,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SELECT

AT-LARGE WHIP ,,~~ ..r. REVENUE MEASURES

CHAIRMAN. FRIENDS OF IRELAND

Qtnugress nf t4e Nuiteb ~tutes

i;ouse of lhpreseutatiues
February 25, 2010 mas4iugtout mOt 2D515
The Rt. Honorable David Cameron MP
House of Commons
London, England
SWlA oAA

Dear Mr. Cameron

As Members of the United States Congress with a longstanding interest in the

peace process, we are writing you today following the agreement on the
devolution of policing and justice powers reached at Hillsborough Castle on
February 5, 2010. From our perspective, that accord was another significant and
transformative milestone in Northern Ireland that should complete the transfer
of powers from London to Belfast and place the responsibility of governing
exclusively in the hands of locally elected officials on a cross community basis.
We particularly welcomed your strong statement of support for the pact and
share your hope that the compromise will lead to "the re-establishment of
political stability in Northern Ireland."

It is our understanding that the next step in the process is on March 9 when the
Northern Ireland Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution to formally
devolve policing and justice powers in April. As a bipartisan group, we are
growing increasingly concerned that all parties have not voiced their unequivocal
support for the unprecedented agreement reached at Hillsborough. In particular,
the Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey has yet to signal his intentions.
At this defining moment in the peace process, it is crucial that all the political
parties speak with one voice about their shared future. Without a unanimous
vote, the elected officials of Northern Ireland would be sending the wrong
message to the people they represent, and to the world.

In recent days, violence has returned to the streets of Northern Ireland. From the
explosion of a 250 pound bomb next to a courthouse in Newry, to the abandoned
mortar device left near a police station in Keady, dissidents are trying to
destabilize the political institutions and turn the clock back. And today, we
learned a young man's brutal murder is being blamed on anti-peace process
criminals. We condemn these reprehensible actions in the strongest possible
terms. These perpetrators must be brought to justice. And the police must have
the complete support of the community they are protecting. But these dissidents
will continue to be emboldened if they sense there is no political unanimity on
the way forward.
2208 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 300 STATE STREET 2 CONGRESS STREET
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 SUITE 200 POST OFFICE BUILDING
(202) 225-5601 SPRINGFIELD, MA 01105 MILFORD, MA 01757
(413) 785-0325 (508) 634-8198

PRINTEDON RECYCLEDPAPER
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The Rt. Honorable David Cameron
Page 2.

Following the agreement reached at Hillsborough, President Barack Obama

praised the policing and justice deal "an important step on the pathway to greater
peace and prosperity." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited First
Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to
Washington to discuss continued American investment in Northern Ireland~
Many of us look forward to participating in that investment conference hosted by
the U.S. Economic Envoy Declan Kelly on March 16. However, the challenge of
bringing good jobs to Northern Ireland will be made more difficult if potential
investors do not believe there is political stability.

We believe the Conservative Party in Britain has played a significant role in the
evolution and success of the peace process for many years. Under the leadership
of Prime Minister John Major, the Downing Street Declaration was signed which
created a template for dialogue and negotiation that led to both the Good Friday
Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement. Less than twenty years after that
historic Joint Declaration was issued by the British and Irish governments in
1993, Northern Ireland is now a model of successful conflict resolution around
the globe.

In 2008, we noted that the Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionist Party had
formed an electoral pact to run on ajoint ticket in Northern Ireland. Both parties
have a long and distinguished record of taking great risks for lasting peace in the
region. Indeed, as a key negotiator, Sir Reg Empey played a critical role with
David Trimble in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement. With the March 9 on
the horizon, we look forward to his support of the power-sharing institutions and
a shared future. As a supporter of the Hillsborough Agreement, we also urge you
to encourage Sir Reg and the Ulster Unionists to vote for the resolution next
month to transfer policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland on April 12 and
secure the future for the people of that society. A unanimous vote would send a
powerful message on both sides of the Atlantic that Northern Ireland is truly
open for business.

Sincerely,

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CHAIRMAN OF THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND
 The Rt. Honorable David Cameron
Page 3.

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MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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The Rt. Honorable David Cameron
Page 4.

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