Mr. Speaker, this year, St. Patrick's Day, the celebration of the Irish, is particularly significant.
This is in fact the first time in thirty years that the Irish in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are celebrating their national day in peace.
The Belfast agreements contain provisions for the possible liberation and unification of the people of Ireland, thus bringing to conclusion the work started by Daniel O'Connel, Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera and the thousands of men and women who fought for the independence of Ireland and for the recognition of its identity as a nation.
We can only hope that the peace process will ultimately mean the uniting of the Irish. This would prove once and for all the error of those who thought it possible to take away the identity of a people by force and territorial annexation.
No political tactic or manoeuvring, no denial of rights or failure to provide recognition can prevent a people from affirming its existence and assuming its independence, if it so desires—