Recognizing Michelle O'neill's Election As First Minister of Northern Ireland

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michelle O'Neill on her election to serve as First Minister of Northern Ireland, the first Irish nationalist leader in history to hold the seat, and also for the tone she set by pledging to be a leader for all the people of Northern Ireland.

After 2 years of delays and two successive elections in which the people made their voices heard, parties will once again sit in government and resume the difficult work of legislating.

The democratic institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement have been critical in sustaining peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland. As a guarantor of that agreement, the United States has the indispensable role of continuing to uphold these principles of self- government, ensuring that progress made over the last years will continue into the future.

I have no doubt that the people of Ireland should be proud of these institutions, and I look forward to the realization of renewed stability with the return of a power-sharing government.

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