Political Quotes

“Tonight we heard two themes: No. 1, the unification of Northern Ireland; and, No. 2, at long last that peace be brought to this tiny island that has given so much to the rest of the world. At that meeting that I had this past week with Prime Minister Major, I asked him to set a date for the withdrawal of British soldiers from Northern Ireland. Tonight, even as I speak here, there are 17,000 British soldiers, at an annual cost of $3 billion, to occupy Northern Ireland. During the course of our conversation, which was always respectful, I reminded the Prime Minister that the 800-year history of Great Britain in Ireland has not always been high-minded. He has acknowledged that himself in recent days. I am also encouraged that the secretary of state for the north of Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has stated that you could make a good argument that the partition of Ireland was wrong. Northern Ireland was artificially contrived. It was offered as a prospect to those who did not want to join the Republic of Ireland. The truth is it has outlived its usefulness.”