Rich Neal: “I would like to speak, if I could for just a few moments again, about that policing issue. It was touched upon by the…”

“I would like to speak, if I could for just a few moments again, about that policing issue. It was touched upon by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) earlier and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), but it is a crucial issue in terms of developing some faith in the institutions of governance in the north of the nationalist community that they fundamentally see a change in the identity of the police force. They cannot be seen as occupiers in a land that people see as their own. There have to be changes in the uniform, the name of the force, the emblems and the flag of the new force that will eventually command respect in both communities. We seek not the triumph of one community over the other as much as an agreed upon Northern Ireland. What we ask for is that North-South policing cooperation reinforce community confidence, and that a permanent international team be sent to the north to monitor the implementation of the agreements and the reforms as proposed. This opportunity must be emphasized in terms of the overall agreements in the north. If we are to have a professional police force, it must be one that is acceptable to both sections of the community and indeed, to both traditions.”