asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if changes in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland have been discussed during the review of the workings of the Anglo-Irish Agreement over the past five months; and if he expects any firm proposals to emerge in this area.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Ireland Administration of Justice.
29.
It would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome of the review, as discussions are still ongoing. However I can say that these discussions have included the whole range of issues covered by the administration of justice, including the courts and the criminal law, prisons policy, security policy and the relations between the security forces and the Nationalist community.
My understanding from the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference is that the review was completed except to put the finishing touches to a joint communique. It is in that context that I ask the question. The Taoiseach might agree that changes in the administration of justice have been scarce in the first three years of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. I would say it was rather disappointing. I would like to ask the Taoiseach specifically if changes in the system of justice, particularly the Diplock Courts, were on the agenda for this review?
The whole scope of the Agreement was under review and, therefore, naturally the system of administration of justice was considered. Most of us would regard confidence in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland as crucial so that it is an essential part of the review of the agreement.
The Taoiseach says that the whole scope of the Agreement is under review. Yet I have in my possession a letter from the Secretary of State in Northern Ireland, to a private individual, saying that the scope of the Agreement is not under review, that only the working of the Agreement is under review.
That is what I meant — the scope of the workings of the Agreement. It is difficult to decide where one stops and the other begins. It is actually the workings of the Conference which is under review.
Can the Taoiseach indicate when he expects the current review will conclude and when the joint communique, which was promised, following the last meeting between the Tánaiste and the Northern Ireland Secretary of State will be announced? It was indicated that there would be a joint communique.
It will be a little longer. It has emerged to be more protracted than we thought when that was said. It will be another while.
Are you thinking in terms of weeks or months, summer or autumn?
Not necessarily a matter of weeks, more than likely it will be a month and then, of course, we run into the local election situation.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he pressed for changes in the Diplock Courts as part of the review?
The review does not take the from of requests, it takes the form of discussions, an exchange of views, papers and documents and so on.
In relation to a supplementary question from Deputy De Rossa, the Tánaiste said after the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference that, in fact, the review was completed and it was a matter of tidying up the communique which he said would be issued in a matter of three weeks which by my count would make it next week. I understand from the Taoiseach that it will be a month longer than that again. Is that correct?
Yes.Mr. Barry: Therefore, it was more than a tidying up of the communique that was involved?
There are other factors impinging on the situation. There are still some, perhaps desirable and beneficial, aspects that we were not quite fully satisfied about.
That disposes of questions for today.
May I ask the Taoiseach what he means? This has been dragging on, surpassing different deadlines on a number of occasions over the past 6 months.
I am proceeding now to deal with the resumed debate on the Finance Bill, 1989.