Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 4

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Peace Talks.

Peter Barry

Question:

23 Mr. Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the UK Government has indicated that it intends to make proposals under Articles 4 (b) and (c) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and whether the Irish Government will support any such proposals.

Austin Deasy

Question:

31 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he agrees with the views of John Hume, MEP, as expressed recently which envisages an all-Ireland referendum as a means of obtaining consensus for the future of the whole of this island.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

48 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can foresee an early restart of peace talks in Northern Ireland; if any recent events have affected the likelihood or success of such talks; the number of meetings of the Anglo-Irish conference held in the past two years; his views on whether these meetings advanced the cause of peace; the response, if any, he received from Northern Unionists, Northern Nationalists and the UK authorities to his own initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

49 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he expects to have discussions with Unionist leaders in the coming months; and if so, whether any arrangements have been finalised for these discussions.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

60 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the response, if any he has received from politicians in Northern Ireland to his speech delivered to the Irish Association at the Mansion House on 5 March 1993; if he intends to take any follow-up initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

74 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the approach he intends to adopt after the Northern Ireland local elections so as to encourage the resumption of Northern Ireland talks.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

76 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, following his recent meetings with Northern Ireland and UK authorities, he envisages an enhanced role for the Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Group, or the Anglo-Irish Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

80 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has drawn up a comprehensive plan with specific landmark objectives with a view to achieving a peaceful solution to the Northern Ireland issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

84 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has taken measures to encourage early resumption of peace talks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

85 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made contact with his British counterpart with a view to achieving progress towards the resumption of talks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

86 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his intentions for the involvement of the Unionist and Nationalist communities in discussions which might help to bring about a peaceful solution in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

87 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent, if any, to which he intends to pursue more regular meetings of the Anglo-Irish conference having particular regard to the need for extra dialogue in view of the continuing violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

88 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to announce any further initiative on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 31, 48, 49, 60, 74, 76, 80, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88 together.

The Government attach the highest priority to an early resumption of political dialogue on the future of Northern Ireland, aimed at reaching a comprehensive political accommodation between the two traditions in Ireland which will be conductive to lasting peace and stability.

It is clear that people in both parts of Ireland and in Britain urgently want to see progress towards a resolution of the conflict and the ending of all violence and suffering. The two Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland have a duty to respond to this clear wish and to resume negotiations.

The Government, for their part, have made clear their wish to enter such dialogue so as to address comprehensively all of the relationships involved in an open and innovative spirit, ready to discuss every issue and to incorporate all agreed changes. The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a clear and detailed approach to the Northern Ireland problem which is fully endorsed and shared by both Parties in Government.

Since it is accepted by all that the final outcome of talks will need to be acceptable to the people North and South, it seems reasonable to envisage that this might be established by referendum in both jurisdictions. The Government, for their part, are committed in their joint Programme to seeking any necessary endorsement in a referendum for an agreed package emerging from the talks.

Pending the resumption of formal talks, the Tánaiste had made clear his desire for direct first-hand contracts with constitutional politicians and representative community leaders from both traditions in Northern Ireland. There have been formal meetings with the SDLP and Alliance parties, and he is pursuing the question of contacts with other representatives to the extent that is constructively possible in present circumstances.

There have been sustained contacts with the British Government, both at political and official level, to consider how best both Governments can achieve progress towards their common goal of seeing further talks take place as soon as possible on the basis of the statement of 26 March 1991.

Both Governments have repeatedly made clear that they remain fully committed to the Anglo-Irish Agreement, unless and until it is transcended by new agreed arrangements. The Government consider the vigorous and comprehensive implementation of the Agreement to be in the interests of both communities in Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole.

Over the past two years there have been 11 meetings of the Anglo-Irish Conference. The number of these meetings reflects the prolonged "gap" which was agreed in 1991 to allow unionist leaders to participate in political dialogue. These and all previous meetings of the Conference have been directed to serving the common purpose of the two Governments under the Anglo-Irish Agreement, in particular their commitment to "continuing efforts to reconcile and to acknowledge the rights of the two major traditions that exist in Ireland" and to "a society in Northern Ireland in which all may live in peace, free from discrimination and intolerance". The high level of security cooperation achieved by these meetings has been recognised on all sides.

Article 4 (b) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement states that it is the declared policy of the United Kingdom Government that responsibility in respect of certain matters within the powers of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland should be devolved within Northern Ireland on a basis which would secure widespread acceptance throughout the community, and also states that the Irish Government support that policy.

While it remains open to the Irish Government, under Article 4 (c) of the Agreement, to put forward views and proposals on this issue, both Governments recognise that devolution can be achieved only with the cooperation of constitutional representatives within Northern Ireland of both traditions there. The three-standed talks which took place last year which both Governments wish to see resumed, included one strand devoted to internal relationships within Northern Ireland. The Government are of the view that his aspect can most fruitfully be addressed in a context which also deals comprehensively with all of the other relationships involved in the problem.

A possible enhancement of the role of the Anglo-Irish Interparliamentary body is a question for the body itself to consider. The Tánaiste has previously indicated his willingness to consider, in consultation with his British counterpart, any proposals which the body might wish to put forward in this regard.