Martin Hoke: “Mr. Speaker, last summer I was privileged to gain an extraordinary exposure to Ireland's expansive landscape of…”

“Mr. Speaker, last summer I was privileged to gain an extraordinary exposure to Ireland's expansive landscape of political views and opinions during a visit to Belfast, and with the assistance of the U.S. State Department and Cleveland City Councilman Pat O'Malley I met with party leaders representing the entire spectrum of Irish political parties from Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, to Ian Paisley, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, which represents the most extreme loyalist pro-British element. Unlike our American political parties, the political parties in Northern Ireland are not distinguished primarily by their commitment to economic or social principles. Whereas our political parties debate ideological differences over the legitimate and appropriate size of Government, the role of regulation, how much we should tax ourselves, et cetera, the Irish parties are distinguished first and foremost by their various commitments to the future geopolitical status of Northern Ireland.”