The Northern Ireland issue is a controversial and emotional issue. Different sides have different perspectives. Yet. by the fashion in which our visa policy is presently constructed. the American public knows the British Government position. the Irish Government position. and the militant Protestant position. Yet the views of the Nationalist side in Northern Ireland are denied access to this Nation because none of their leaders are permitted to travel into the United States. To add further irony to the situation. the Department denied Mr. Adams visa because of alleged statements he made which they felt were advocating for the overthrow of a govemnment. Meanwhile. Reverend Paisley. in a series of statements issued in opposition to the recent AngloIrish agreement. endorsed by the State Department. threatened to make Northern Ireland "ungovernable." I reiterate the position I have subscribed to for the past decade. The United States must adopt an open visa policy with respect to Northern Ireland. It is vital that there be a full. fair. and free exchange to views on this issue of importance to the 40 million Irish Americans in this Nation. This exchange of views can never be accomplished when we close our doors on segments of political thought. I have sent letters today to Chairmen FASCELL and LUGAR of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees to urge that they convene an immediate investigation into the visa policy and work for reforms to ensure it be less selective and more responsive to all views. At this point in the RECORD. I am inserting a statement from Nicholas Murphy. the new national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. opposing the visa policy.