Bertie Ahern
Question:9 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if the new Government is committed to continuing the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation for as long as is necessary. [2033/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
The Government share the widespread view that the forum is making a very worthwhile contribution to the cause of peace and reconciliation on this island. As indicated in our programme, we are of course fully committed to its continuation for as long as is necessary to enable it to complete its important work.
Will the Taoiseach agree that the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation which was established on 28 October 1994 by his predecessors is working well and making a significant contribution to the peace process? Will he accept that the mandate to the forum is open-ended and that it should continue until there is consensus among the parties that it has served its purpose? Further, will the Taoiseach use this opportunity to give the House an indication of the state of the nation address which the Prime Minister, Mr. Major, will give today? Has he had discussions during the day with Prime Minister Major in an effort to alleviate the fears and concerns of the people whom we have been trying to bring into the forum during the past three or four months? This is a difficult day and if the forum is to continue to achieve success we must focus on the concerns of the Unionists. Perhaps the Taoiseach would give an outline of the position since morning?
As, no doubt, the Deputy will recollect when the forum was being established and I was in Opposition I was extremely anxious to ensure that everything possible was done to ensure that the Unionist community was represented and took part fully in the forum. Indeed, I made public and private efforts which, I have no doubt complemented the efforts being made by the then Government, to persuade some or all of the Unionist parties to take part. I believe their absence is sorely felt in the forum as there are many issues on which we wish to have their views. I have not the slightest doubt, from my experience of the way in which the forum has worked, that they would receive a very good hearing for their views from all sides. I heartily endorse what has been said about the valuable work the forum has been doing. Perhaps I can say something personal about it. It has not been just the formal sessions that have been useful, it is the ability which the forum gives us all to interact with other parties whom we might not meet informally all that often. That has been especially useful.
I do not know if I am in order in widening my replies to include matters that do not come strictly within the compass of the forum. However, I wish to repeat what I said this morning, that both the Irish and British Governments are working to achieve a balanced framework document which creates a framework in which all communities in Northern Ireland, the rest of us on this island and those in Britain can work together for a better future for all. We are dealing with extremely complex issues where one is talking about long held and inherently contradictory views about the constitutional position. If we on this island can find new ways of defining the problem and overcoming it, we will not only help to solve our own problems but perhaps set a headline for other countries in Europe, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where similar problems in regard to ethnicity and national loyalty exist.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Will he agree that in working towards a balanced framework document we have to take all views into account? Will he endeavour, through the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that any statement made tonight, in response to the leaked document, keeps in perspective the Nationalist and Unionist views? The Taoiseach could have a valuable input to the Prime Minister's statement. As I understand it the whole emphasis is on reassuring the Unionists and on working towards a balanced framework document which we all want to see. The Taoiseach has our support in trying to achieve this.
We should avoid a repeat of this morning's discussion on that matter. This question deals with the continuation of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
I am inclined to respect your ruling. I cannot say what the Prime Minister will say tonight. It is a matter for each Prime Minister in his or her jurisdiction to make statements to the people in regard to the matters they regard as important. Obviously, we would have something to say if an address by me was to be the subject of any external interference. Having said that we must recognise that, in this matter, we are dealing with a matter in which Ireland and Britain have a shared interest. It is extremely important that the point made by Deputy Ahern in regard to maintaining a balance between the interests of both communities to achieve parity of esteem is at the forefront of everybody's mind. All contacts, formal and informal, I have on an ongoing basis with the Prime Minister will be designed to achieve that objective in everything he and I do on behalf of our respective Governments.
Perhaps I can reply to a question I omitted to answer in regard to a suggestion that the forum would continue indefinitely until the last party agreed it should stop. That is not practical. We must recognise that at some stage a point will be reached — everything is temporary — when the forum will come to an end but I do not see that looming in the near future. The forum is doing excellent work and I think we are all happy with that.
Without wishing to correct the Taoiseach, he and I consider that the Nationalist people are also our people and that we have a special responsibility to them——
Of course.
—— and it is not a matter of what Mr. Major would like to say to them. We should keep that in perspective. In respect of a smaller matter, the Taoiseach will acknowledge that when we on this side of the House were in Government, my predecessor and the Ministers made a practice of attending meetings of the forum. This is not always possible for the Taoiseach but, at least, the Ministers should be there. I do not wish to be over critical in the early weeks of the Government but the Taoiseach will know what I mean. Perhaps a special effort could be made to ensure that senior Government officials attend all meetings of the forum.
The Deputy will acknowledge that I have been assiduous in my own attendance at the forum and that is an example I hope all members of the Government will follow. I have every reason to believe they have been following it. Of course, we have a special interest in the Nationalist community. I am proud to be a former member of a Government which negotiated the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the first formal expression in an international treaty of the specific concerns which this Government has for the minority Nationalist community in Northern Ireland. That is certainly to the forefront in my mind in everything I do as the Leader of this Government. It is important in our international relations to be tactful and to recognise that other Governments have their responsibilities too. While I would wish to make representations to the British Prime Minister on an ongoing basis I expect to make them on the same basis as he would make representations to me.
I agree with the Taoiseach in relation to the forum and his attendance there is exemplary. Will the Taoiseach agree that the vacuum that has been created and the delay in the publication of the framework document is leading to fears and concerns? Is he optimistic that the document will be published this month? Does the Taoiseach intend getting in touch, or has he been in touch today with the British Prime Minister to discuss the leaking of this information?
I have been in contact with the British Prime Minister's office. I agree that in all aspects of life nature abhors a vacuum, but at the same time it is important that we have a framework document that gets it right and I would not wish an artificial timetable to place either Government under constraint which would prevent it from getting it right. I recognise that much work was done by the previous Government and, particularly, by the Tánaiste in the last months in advancing this process. We are down to a few remaining difficult issues, probably the ones that require the most attention, and I will not set a time limit for the Government. I recognise the point made by Deputy Harney about the need to finalise matters as quickly as possible so that any measure of uncertainty that exists is removed.
I wish to advise the House that we shall be obliged to proceed to deal with priority questions at 3.30 p.m., in accordance with the procedures laid down by this House.