asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider establishing in conjunction with the British Government a support fund for democratic parties in Northern Ireland, providing direct financial, administrative and research aid to all parties engaged in democratic political activity in Northern Ireland, with the aim of promoting an increased political response to terrorism and the use of the political process to promote community reconstruction and democracy in Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Support Fund Proposal.
15.
The Government attach the greatest importance to the role and the work of constitutional parties in Northern Ireland. However, funding of the kind envisaged by the Deputy raises a number of sensitive issues. The Government have no plans to put forward a proposal of this kind.
I thank the Minister for his reply. The Minister will appreciate that the conditions under which democratic political parties have to operate in Northern Ireland are quite grim, that by and large politicians do not have access to resources such as the larger parties in this House have and that it is important to enhance the activities of the democratic parties in the North, to give some assistance, financial or otherwise, to them in pursuing their democratic objectives. Will he at least discuss the matter with the British authorities to see if there is some way in which both the Irish and the British Governments can assist the parties to which I am referring?
There is a procedure for financial assistance to parties elected to Westminister, parties of either two MPs or one MP with at least 150,000 votes at the preceding general election. They are entitled to financial assistance for the conduct of parliamentary business. As the Deputy is aware, the SDLP are an obvious case and may be beneficiaries under that procedure. None of the political parties with whom I have had dialogue, primarily the SDLP, has approached me in this matter. There are various good reasons why they might not approve of funding from us. They have their own political process to engage in. I have nothing but admiration for the manner in which the SDLP over the years have performed within the financial constraints that exist but they have never suggested that I should do what the Deputy mentioned.
I recognise that there would be difficulties in formulating a procedure whereby this could be done but the Minister must know that the SDLP have an association with the Democratic foundation in the US which indirectly assists them financially.
Rightly so.
I am not objecting to the fact. I am simply saying that it is perhaps because of the circumstances with in which democratic parties have to operate in Northern Ireland that they seek association with groups like the Democratic foundation. It would be important that parties would receive assistance in a way which would enable them to act independently of outside agencies.
This is tending towards repetition and argument.
I will look at it but I have yet to be convinced.