SJR8 A RESOLUTION to recognize and welcome The Lord Alderdice

Filed for intro on 01/13/2005
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8
By Fowler

A RESOLUTION to recognize and welcome The Lord Alderdice, member of the House of Lords and former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly are pleased to specially recognize those dynamic leaders of foreign lands who travel to our great state to foster understanding, share cultural expressions and develop common bonds of fellowship and good will; and

WHEREAS, such an internationally acclaimed dignitary is The Lord Alderdice, a member of the House of Lords and the former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, who is leading a delegation of goodwill ambassadors to be hosted by the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs, the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee and Peregrini International; and

WHEREAS, born March 28, 1955, to the Reverend David and Helena Alderdice, in Northern Ireland, John, Lord Alderdice was educated at Donaghcloney Primary School, Strandtown Primary School in Belfast, and Ballymena Academy where he earned the placement of Deputy Head Boy; and

WHEREAS, continuing his education, Lord Alderdice read Medicine at Queen’s University of Belfast and graduated MB, BCh, BAO in 1978; he became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrist (MRCPsych) in 1983 and later specialized in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy; and

WHEREAS, highly respected and greatly admired by his peers and colleagues, Lord Alderdice was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych) in 1997, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and in 2001 an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and of the British Psychoanalytical Society; and - 2 - 00167036

WHEREAS, in 1978 Lord Alderdice joined the Alliance Party and was elected Party Leader in October 1987, he won election to the Belfast City Council in 1989 and to the newly formed Northern Ireland Forum in 1996; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure on the Northern Ireland Forum he led the Alliance delegation and served in that same capacity in the Multi-party Talks chaired by former United States Senator George Mitchell prior to being raised to the peerage in October 1996; and

WHEREAS, taking his seat on the Liberal Democrat benches in the House of Lords on November 5, 1996, Lord Alderdice played an integral role in the Irish Peace Process, serving as one of the key negotiators of the Belfast Agreement signed on Good Friday in 1998; and

WHEREAS, a committed internationalist, Lord Alderdice was elected an Executive Member of the Federation of European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Parties in 1987, Treasurer in 1995 and in 1999 served as Vice President of the organization. He is a former Vice President of Liberal International, and in October 2000, was elected the Deputy President of Liberal International, the world-wide federation of liberal political parties; and

WHEREAS, elected in 1998 to the new Northern Ireland Assembly as a member for Belfast East, he resigned as Leader of the Alliance Party and was appointed Speaker of the new Assembly, which post he held until retiring on February 29, 2004; and

WHEREAS, a truly caring and dedicated individual, Lord Alderdice has helped to found a number of Northern Ireland charities and professional organizations and worked tirelessly with a multitude of national and international religious and professional organizations; and

WHEREAS, an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Lord Alderdice is a devoted husband to wife, Joan, a Consultant Pathologist, and is the proud father of three children, Stephen, Peter and Anna; and

WHEREAS, this General Assembly is honored to have such an eminent individual as The Lord Alderdice visit Nashville and the State of Tennessee; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING,
that this General Assembly, on behalf of the citizens of Tennessee, hereby extends our most cordial welcome to The Lord Alderdice and his entire delegation from Ireland as they meet with the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs, the Native American Association of Tennessee and American Indian citizens of our state on January 25th, 2005.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we also offer our best wishes for a fruitful and rewarding visit, and express our profound hope that The Lord Alderdice will return in the future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.